Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Few would question that Alex Kirilloff is the best pure hitter in the Twins' system heading into the 2019 season, with perhaps No. 1 prospect Royce Lewis not far behind. But Arraez, who put a 2017 season lost to a torn ACL in his rear-view mirror by hitting his way to Double-A in 2018, isn't too far behind.
The left-handed hitter from Venezuela has hit everywhere he's been, including finishing second in the organization (to Kirilloff) with a .310 average across two levels a year ago. Arraez has impressive bat-to-ball skills and grinds out at-bats as well as anyone in the organization, a big reason why he won the Midwest League batting title in 2016 and carries a career .329 average into 2019. He uses an extreme opposite field approach and while he's never going to be a huge power guy, if he can learn to turn on pitches to his pull side more, there is some extra-base impact for him to unlock.
Arraez has largely played second as a pro, though he saw some time at third, short and even a bit in the outfield in 2018, then played a lot at the hot corner in winter ball. He'll continue to wok on his outfield play this year to prepare him for a potential super-utility role down the line. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 1486 300 8 2.7 86.9 11.4 .290 .410 .360 .336 .326 22.1 7.9 9.8 ALL 1486 300 8 2.7 86.9 11.4 .290 .410 .360 .336 .326 22.1 7.9 9.8 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 06/18/2019 Minnesota Twins recalled 2B Luis Arraez from Rochester Red Wings. 06/03/2019 Minnesota Twins optioned 2B Luis Arraez to Rochester Red Wings. 05/17/2019 Minnesota Twins recalled Luis Arraez from Rochester Red Wings. 05/14/2019 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 04/01/2019 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Twins Extended Spring Training. 03/30/2019 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Twins Extended Spring Training from Rochester Red Wings. 03/25/2019 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 03/12/2019 Minnesota Twins optioned 2B Luis Arraez to Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 11/20/2018 Minnesota Twins selected the contract of Luis Arraez from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 10/12/2018 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes. 07/04/2018 Luis Arraez assigned to Chattanooga Lookouts from Fort Myers Miracle. 04/19/2018 Fort Myers Miracle activated 2B Luis Arraez from the 7-day disabled list. 04/05/2018 Fort Myers Miracle placed 2B Luis Arraez on the 7-day disabled list. 09/20/2017 Fort Myers Miracle activated 2B Luis Arraez from the 7-day disabled list. 04/10/2017 Fort Myers Miracle placed 2B Luis Arraez on the 7-day disabled list. 04/06/2017 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from Cedar Rapids Kernels. 03/31/2017 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Minnesota Twins. 04/03/2016 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from GCL Twins. 11/03/2015 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes. 05/29/2015 2B Luis Arraez assigned to GCL Twins from DSL Twins. 01/17/2015 2B Luis Arraez assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes. 11/22/2013 2B Luis Arraez assigned to DSL Twins. 11/21/2013 Minnesota Twins signed free agent 2B Luis Arraez to a minor league contract.
