Saturday, May 02

The Giants knew what they were getting at the plate when they signed Luis Arraez to a one-year, $12 million deal in February. 

Arraez’s elite bat-to-ball skills have been as advertised, with the three-time batting champion hitting .303 with a .700 OPS and an MLB-low 4.5% strikeout rate through his first 31 games of the year. 

The more pleasant surprise is that Arraez has been a hit with the glove, as well. 

The 29-year-old entered Saturday worth +6 outs above average at second base this year, tied for fourth-best among Major League players, regardless of position. The only defenders ahead of Arraez on the OAA scoreboard are a trio of 2025 Gold Glove winners: shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (8) of the Royals, and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (8) and second baseman Nico Hoerner (7) of the Cubs.

Fielding metrics tend to fluctuate over the course of the regular season, but Arraez’s early returns are notable considering he’d previously been viewed as a defensive liability at second base, where he recorded -61 OAA from 2019-25, the worst mark in the Majors.

The Padres primarily used Arraez at first base over the last two seasons to try to mitigate his shortcomings with the glove, but he sought a return to his natural position when he hit free agency over the offseason. 

“He wanted to play second base,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “He also wanted to work with [infield coach Ron Washington], and he wanted to play up the middle with [shortstop] Willy [Adames]. Those are three big categories, and ones that you come to work with every day. He's made the most of them. Just because you think and want those things and map it out in your head with a vision doesn't mean it's going to happen. You’ve got to do the work. The one thing that stuck out to me is for a guy that's as accomplished as a hitter, he's put in a pretty good amount of work.” 

Arraez said he always had confidence in his defensive ability, but he redoubled his efforts to prove he could still handle second base over the winter, training regularly with former Reds infielder Rainer Olmedo, who also works with the Brewers’ Luis Rengifo. He’s relished the opportunity to continue to learn from Washington, the former Rangers and Angels manager and renowned infield guru who was hired to serve on Vitello’s coaching staff this year. 

“My defense has always been good,” Arraez said in Spanish. “We didn’t know about the metrics, but thankfully, we’re aware of them now. I worked hard in the offseason with Rainer Olmedo, a Venezuelan coach who works in Mexico. And thank God, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Ron Washington and [Giants third-base coach Hector Borg]. 

“That’s why I signed here,” he added. “San Francisco gave me the chance to return to my natural position. I thought it was a great opportunity for me and my family.” 

Washington credited Arraez for working diligently to refine his defense every day, noting that Arraez always shows up to go through Washington's legendary pregame drills, which are meant to help infielders master technique and learn to move efficiently with their hands and feet.

“Every play that he's supposed to make, he's made,” Washington said. “He's made plays up the middle, where he just had to get rid of the ball. He’s turned tough double plays. He turned some tough, tough balls where he had to go to the hole and come back and throw to the shortstop. He’s made perfect throws. Those are the types of things that go in the work category. 

“We work on that every day. And then the maintenance is what he comes and gets in the drill work he does, to make sure that his hands and his feet and everything is working the way they’re supposed to work daily. It’s just a reminder. The stimulation of the mind. That's all.”

Washington said he doesn’t need to look at any advanced metrics to recognize the defensive strides Arraez has made this season. His preferred tool for evaluation? 

“My eyes,” said Washington, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday. “I don't read the metrics. I can look out there and see if somebody's playing good or not. I realize he's playing good.”

“I'd be curious as to who's playing better at second base than [Arraez] is,” Vitello added. “That's the easiest way for me to say it.” 

Not a lot has gone right for the Giants through the first month of the regular season, but Arraez has certainly been a bright spot, especially now that he’s emerged as a legitimate asset on the infield. 

“We go through our routine and work every day,” Arraez said. “Even if it’s raining or there’s lightning, [Washington’s] there for all of us young players. We’re blessed to have him. … I just want to keep playing my game, feel good with where I’m at and keep doing my part to help the team win.”

Thursday’s dispiriting doubleheader against the Phillies will have cascading effects for the Giants when they return to San Francisco next week.

After using Logan Webb and Adrian Houser on the same day, the Giants won’t have one of their regular starters available to pitch on normal rest against the Padres on Monday, meaning they’ll have to call up another pitcher from Triple-A Sacramento to make a spot start.

The Giants could have saved Houser for Friday’s series opener against the Rays and tried to run a bullpen game in Game 2 against the Phillies -- especially with right-hander Trevor McDonald on site as their 27th man -- but Vitello said he trusted Houser in that spot. 

“We know he can give us a quality start, and we'll worry about [Monday] when it comes,” Vitello said.

Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt and right-hander Carson Seymour could be candidates to get the starting nod against the Padres on Monday. Whisenhunt has a 4.85 ERA over six appearances for the River Cats this year, while Seymour has a 4.03 mark across six outings.

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