Former Blue Wahoos' Arraez Enhances Aura In MLB All-Star Game

The aura of Luis Arraez has now grown larger.

Once, a rising prospect in 2019 when starting the season in Pensacola with the Blue Wahoos – and wowing with his machine-like bat skills – Arraez commanded the spotlight in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

The 26-year-old, Venezuela native and Miami Marlins second baseman had two at-bats. He saw two pitches in the game. Hit two singles against two star pitchers, the second hit for an RBI.

He also showed his personality while being interviewed and during in-game microphones when on first base.

“I saw only two pitches,” Arraez said when interviewed on the Fox Sports broadcast of the game. “Because I want to hit the ball already. ... I just came here to enjoy the game.”

It further enhanced the buzz-filled first half of Arraez’ season with the Marlins. He was one of four players who wore Blue Wahoos jerseys to play in Tuesday’s All-Star game.

Two others, including Marlins teammate Jorge Soler, who had an injury rehab assignment in Pensacola last year, along with pitcher Michael Lorenzen, saw action in the game. Pitcher Luis Castillo, one of the host Seattle Mariners’ representatives in the game, did not play.

Incredibly, Arraez is the first player in 23 seasons to have a batting average above .280 at the All-Star break. Arraez is hitting .283. Only nine other players since 1980 – a span of 43 years – have carried a batting average of .280 or higher at this juncture of a season.

“Every time he hits the ball, it goes where nobody's standing,” said Atlanta Braves’ first baseman Matt Olson, speaking to MLB.com writer Jessica Camerato.

Arraez is on pace to have a chance at matching the hallowed mark of .400 set by legend Ted Williams in 1941. It’s a feat no one has attained since that season.

Williams also has a Pensacola connection. He played for the Bronson Bombers, a U.S. Navy all-star team, while training at Naval Air Station Pensacola during World War II to become a U.S. Marine Corps pilot. The Blue Wahoos are honoring Williams’ memory and U.S. Navy legacy with a Bobblehead Night later this summer.

Arraez’ impact in the 2023 All-Star game, after being voted a starter by fans, also reinforced how special it was for Pensacola folks to see him at Blue Wahoos Stadium for six weeks in 2019. That preceded Arraez launching his big league career later that season with the Minnesota Twins.

“It doesn’t look hard for him. I always say that hitting is easy; we make it harder. It’s unbelievable what he’s doing,” said San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto in the MLB.com story. :And he’s a great guy. It’s incredible the skill that he has to put the ball in play.”

Arraez played 38 games for the Blue Wahoos, including 15 games in Pensacola during the 2019 season. He had 50 hits and 14 RBI in 146 plate appearances for a .342 average. He was elevated in May to Triple-A for a short stint before joining the Twins.

He batted .334 with the Twins that season and was candidate for American League rookie of the year. He followed with a .321 average during the 2020 shortened season, then hit .294 with the Twins in 2021 and was the American League batting champion with a .316 average last year.

Right now, he’s 50 points ahead of the Braves’ megastar Ronald Acuna Jr., in the quest to become National League batting champion. The pursuit of .400 will continue its intrigue if Arraez resumes his hitting pace during these next two months.

“I think we’re all cheering him on,” said the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman in the MLB.com story. “It’s incredible to watch.”

The Marlins acquired Arraez in a win-win trade during the off-season with the Twins, who received former Marlins’ starting pitcher Pablo Lopez. He also played in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, representing the Twins and tossing a scoreless inning.

Meanwhile, Michael Lorenzen, the Detroit Tigers’ representative, who played two seasons with the Blue Wahoos as a Cincinnati Reds prospect, pitched in the seventh inning and got out of a two-on situation to preserve the AL lead at the time.

“Right when I found out (making All-Star team), it hit me pretty hard," Lorenzen said to the Detroit News. "To me, it was bigger than getting called up to the big leagues. I felt like I always knew I was going to be a Major League Baseball player, but to be a good Major League Baseball player is a different story."

Soler had one at-bat, reaching on an error in the seventh inning and advancing to third on a single by the Braves’ Austin Riley.

FORMER WAHOOS IN 2023 MLB ALL-STAR GAME

Luis Arraez (2019 as Twins prospect) – Started at second base, batted sixth. 2-for-2, 1 RBI.

Jorge Soler (injury rehab in 2022 for Miami) – Inserted as DH in sixth inning. Reached on error.

Michael Lorenzen (2013-14 as Reds prospect) --- Entered with one out in seventh inning. Got out of 2-on jam.

Luis Castillo (2017 as Reds prospect) – Name to team as Seattle Mariners pitcher. Didn’t enter game.