Luis Arraez: World Baseball Classic & former WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup star enjoys record MLB month in June
Born in San Felipe, Central-Western Venezuela, Arraez appeared in eight games for the champions at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2012 and was also the starting first baseman for Venezuela at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
International baseball veteran Luis Arraez is having a career season with the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Arraez became the first-ever Marlin to hit for the cycle on 11 April against the Philadelphia Phillies.
In May he celebrated his 500th MLB hit.
In June, Arraez became the first player to record three five-hit games in a month since Dave Winfield did so in 1984. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other players enjoyed three five-hit games in a calendar month: George Sisler (August 1921) and Ty Cobb (July 1922).
Arraez had his first five-hit game on 3 June, going 5-for-5 in a Marlins 12-1 win against the Oakland A's. He then went 5-for-5 with a home run on 16 June in a 6-5 Marlins win against the Washington Nationals and 5-for-five in an 11-0 Marlins win against the Toronto Blue Jays on 19 June.
Born in San Felipe, Central-Western Venezuela, Arraez appeared in eight games for Venezuela at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2012. He started three at second base and two in right field, including the World Championship game that Venezuela won against Cuba. He went 6-for-15, a .400 batting average.
Arraez signed as an international free agent for the Minnesota Twins in 2013 and made his MLB debut on 18 May 2019. At the end of the 2022 season, the Twins traded him to the Marlins in exchange for three players. He has appeared in 389 MLB games for the Marlins, primarily at second base. He became the 2022 American League batting champion with a .316 batting average. He also earned the Silver Slugger award and appeared in his first All-Star Game.
