Luis Arraez Promoted To The Major Leagues

Infielder set to become first Wahoo to debut with the Minnesota Twins

Luis Arraez became the first member of the 2019 Blue Wahoos team to be promoted to the major league when Minnesota recalled him on May 17. (Daniel Venn)

By Bill Vilona, Senior Writer

May 18, 2019

Pensacola, Fla. -- Infielder Luis Arraez on Friday became the first Pensacola Blue Wahoos player since last year's affiliation change to reach the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins.Arraez, who turned 22 on April 9, was called up by the Minnesota Twins and was in a big league uniform Friday

Pensacola, Fla. -- Infielder Luis Arraez on Friday became the first Pensacola Blue Wahoos player since last year's affiliation change to reach the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins.
Arraez, who turned 22 on April 9, was called up by the Minnesota Twins and was in a big league uniform Friday night when the Twins played on the west coast against the Seattle Mariners.
The promotion happened only three days after Arraez joined the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, after producing a .342 batting average in 38 games with the Blue Wahoos. Arraez led the Southern League in batting and his average was the third best in Double-A.
In three games with the Red Wings, Arraez had five hits in 14 at-bats. The Twins move coincided with placing designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the 10-day disabled list with a sore left wrist.
Arraez, a native of San Felipe, Venezuela, becomes the 68th Blue Wahoos player to reach the major leagues since the franchise made its 2012 debut as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate. The Blue Wahoos became the Twins' Double-A affiliate following the 2018 season.
The left-handed hitting Arraez, the Blue Wahoos primary second baseman, hit six doubles and had 14 RBI. His .415 on-base percentage was second best in the Southern League.
Arraez' batting average was nine points above Mississippi Braves touted prospect Drew Waters, the second-leading hitter in the Southern League.
Three other former Blue Wahoos have debuted in the majors in 2019: Nick Senzel (Cincinnati), Josh VanMeter (Cincinnati), and Shed Long (Seattle). He is the first from the 2019 Pensacola roster to reach the big leagues.