Luis Arraez: Is He the Most Underrated Player in Baseball?

Okay, let’s be honest for a second.

When you think of a superstar baseball player, you probably picture someone launching 40 home runs a year.

Big swings. But thereâ€™s a catch.

Big power.

The kind of guy who hits it out of the park so hard you have to wear sunglasses.

And then there is Luis Arraez.

He doesn’t hit home runs.

He doesn’t hit it three hundred feet; usually, he hits it maybe two hundred.

But somehow, he keeps finding a way to get on base. Oddly enough,

A lot.

Like, way too much on base.

From what I’ve seen in the league over the last few years, Arraez is a freak of nature.

A walking anomaly.

And yet, because he doesn’t have a cannon for an arm or 40 home run power, most casual fans sleep on him. And this is where things get interesting.

But if you are looking for consistency, he is arguably the most underrated player in the game right now.

Let’s break down why.

The Art of the Stupidly High Batting Average

So, the main thing everyone talks about is the stats.

The .314.

The .400.

The way he made history in 2023 as the first player since Ted Williams to have a season with a batting average above .400.

And that is just insane, isn’t it? But here is the thing people miss.

It’s not luck.

It’s not just ‘he’s lucky.’

See, most hitters look for the perfect pitch.

They wait for a fastball down the middle.

If it’s not perfect, they take the pitch.

But Arraez? He swings at everything.

Now, this sounds like a recipe for disaster. Here’s the interesting part.

You swing at bad pitches, you strike out, right?

Wrong.

He has such a disciplined eye that he knows exactly where to put the ball every time.

He sprays line drives into the gaps.

It’s a skill, not magic.

It’s actually really impressive when you think about the pressure of a 0-2 count with two outs.

If you want to understand the mechanics of this, you really should check out our guide on perfecting your batting stance.

Why Contact Hitting is Making a Comeback

I think we are seeing a shift in the league. And this is where things get interesting.

Everyone went all-in on exit velocity and launch angle because of Statcast.

They wanted to hit it far.

But then defenses figured it out.

They started shifting, moving the infielders way to the shortstop side, leaving the opposite field wide open.

When the shift is on, power hitters are helpless. Oddly enough,

If you try to pull the ball, the shift is waiting to turn a double into an out.

But Arraez? He just shoots the ball the other way.

It’s infuriating to watch for the pitcher, and brilliant for him.

It’s all about having high bat-to-ball skills. But thereâ€™s a catch.

It’s a dying art, honestly.

The old-school guys like Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew did this.

But Arraez brings it into the modern era.

He forces the defense to spread out.

And when they spread out, gaps appear.

He hits through them.

Fantasy Baseball Goldmine?

Now, if you are into fantasy baseball, you need to be paying attention.

Arraez is basically the cheat code for a cheap roster spot.

Most fantasy managers want the guys with the big names and the big power. Now think about that for a second.

They overpay for them.

But they are inconsistent.

One day they hit three homers, the next they strike out four times.

Arraez provides stability.

You know exactly what you are getting. But thereâ€™s a catch.

200 hits. Oddly enough,

60-70 RBIs.

A .300 average.

It might not look sexy on your roster sheet compared to a home run, but your batting average overall will thank you.

If you are setting up your lineup for the season, he is a must-start.

He just has that feel for the game.

You can use a tool like this fantasy projection tool to see how his consistency stacks up against the big names, but honestly, you don’t need a calculator to know that a .300 average is valuable.

The Controversy: Trade Rumors and Value

Here is where it gets tricky.

Despite his amazing production, there is always talk about trading him.

You see, he is signed to a relatively cheap contract compared to the top stars.

So teams see a steal. But thereâ€™s a catch.

They see a trade chip.

I get it from a general manager’s perspective. Here’s the interesting part.

You need to maximize value.

But trading Arraez feels wrong.

He is the heart and soul of that team.

He is the veteran leader in the clubhouse.

For the last few seasons, he has been with the Miami Marlins.

They are a small market team.

They can’t just go out and sign a Bryce Harper or an Mookie Betts.

They have to find these guys in the system or trade for them.

And now they want to flip him? That’s tough to stomach.

What’s Next for the ‘Butterfly’ Hitter?

Looking ahead to 2024, the question isn’t if he’ll be good—it’s how good can he be.

Can he maintain that .300 average when teams start figuring out his tendencies more?

Most people overlook that he is incredibly fast.

He can steal bases, too.

So he’s not just a slap hitter; he’s a complete base-stealing threat.

That puts even more pressure on the defense.

I think he is going to have another solid year. And this is where things get interesting.

Maybe not .400, obviously, but he’s going to be a .300 hitter.

And in today’s game, that is still a luxury you rarely see.

So, if you’re watching the Marlins or checking the standings, keep an eye on him.

He might not be on the highlight reels, but he is probably the most reliable hitter on the field.

And in a game where everyone is trying to do too much, sometimes just hitting the ball where it’s pitched is the winning formula.

What do you guys think? Are you tired of the power hitters? Or do you think Arraez’s style is too small for the big leagues? Let me know in the comments.