Luis Arráez made history with his third consecutive batting title in the Major Leagues

Venezuelan Luis Arráez made history this Sunday by winning his third consecutive batting title by closing with a .314 offensive average after going 1-for-3 in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 11-2 beating of the San Diego Padres.

Arráez became the first player in history to win three consecutive batting titles with three different teams and in both leagues, leading in average in 2022 (Minnesota Twins), Miami Marlins (2023) and San Diego Padres (2024). .

With this he managed to equal his compatriot José Altuve (3) as the Venezuelans with the most offensive leaders, only behind Miguel Cabrera (4) and in the Latin American field only surpassed by the members of the Hall of Fame, Rod Carew, who achieved seven , and the historic Roberto Clemente (4).

Arráéz’s feat was not only personal because with his .314 average he broke the possibility of the Japanese Shohei Ohtani (.310) achieving the first Triple Crown of batting in the National League since 1937.

The most striking thing is that in 2022 he also ended up preventing Aaron Judge from achieving the Triple Crown of batting in the American League, by winning average and helping Cabrera himself to be the only one in recent years with this feat, which he achieved in 2012.

Regarding his achievement, Arráez said that he considers it special and that the best thing is to be able to play and enjoy a sport as complex as baseball.

“This is special for me. I’m here to play baseball. I’m here to help my team win. “I’m here to do the little things to win and, man, I think I did it,” he commented.

Arráez has been heavily criticized during his career by many for his short ability to hit extra bases and home runs, in addition to being last in the entire Major Leagues in swing speed, averaging just 62.4 mph.

But despite the limitations, Arráez is a natural power-hitter and proof of this is his leadership as the king of contact in the entire MLB, in addition to the record he has maintained since July when he accumulated more than a month without striking out and with just nine fans since last July 4.

Furthermore, according to MLB data, he is the best hitter in the Major Leagues in two-strike counts, averaging .279 and ranking more than 100 points above the general average (.168).

As expected, Arráez hates striking out and always does everything possible to avoid it.

“Everyone hates strikeouts… But especially me,” he said recently when questioned about his work at the plate.

Arráez’s batting title will become official after the doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets is completed this Monday, with Marcel Ozuna having a very distant chance of reaching it but only if he manages to get ten hits between the two games, a task almost impossible to achieve.

Keep reading:

• Venezuelan Luis Arráez seeks to match Miguel Cabrera with three consecutive batting titles
• Venezuelan Luis Arráez accumulates 140 consecutive at-bats without strikeouts
• Luis Arráez expresses his excitement at being part of the Padres: “Now I am on a winning team”