SAN DIEGO — Luis Arraez, who recently earned the title of National League batting champion while playing for the San Diego Padres, underwent surgery on Wednesday to fix a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The Padres organization reported that they anticipate Arraez will commence an offseason hitting regimen in approximately eight weeks, with an expectation that he will be fully recovered in time for the start of spring training.
In a heartfelt post shared on social media, Arraez reflected on his journey, disclosing that the surgery was necessary after enduring an injury for half of the season. He mentioned how, despite the discomfort, he pushed through to contribute to his team, but ultimately recognized the need for medical intervention to facilitate a complete recovery. He assured fans that the operation went well and expressed determination to focus on healing and returning to the field.
The talented player finished the season with a batting average of .314, making history as the first individual since the 1800s to win batting titles with three different teams. He previously achieved this milestone while with the Miami Marlins in 2023 and the Minnesota Twins in 2022. Arraez was traded to the Padres from the Marlins in early May.
Although selected for the National League All-Star team, Arraez was unable to participate because of his injury.
The Padres had a successful run in the postseason, managing to sweep the Atlanta Braves during the Wild Card Series. However, their journey came to a halt when they were defeated in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.