Luis Arraez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Added to the 40-man roster for the first time in November, Arraez made a successful return in 2018 from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
  
  Scouting Report: Signed out of Venezuela seven months after his 16th birthday for just $40,000, Arraez has packed on 30 pounds since signing. Blessed with outstanding hand-eye coordination, Arraez hit his way out of the Florida State League and continued to impress in his first taste of the Southern League. Drawing comparisons to Carlos Baerga with more pull-side power, Arraez is still learning to handle hard stuff on the inner third. At worst he’s a hit-tool fiend with the ability to spray the ball to all fields. Defensively, Arraez is athletic with feet that work well around the bag. His arm is average at best while his speed is below-average, but he shows soft hands, constant energy and leadership skills. Despite the questions about his arm, some believe he could handle third.
  
  The Future: Arraez figures to open 2019 in Double-A, where he’ll aim to hit over .300 once again.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #15 prospect in 2018
  Signed out of Venezuela for just $40,000, seven months after turning 16, Arraez has added 30 pounds since turning pro. After leading the Midwest League in hitting and posting park-adjusted production that was 46 percent above league average in 2016, Arraez went down for the year with a torn ACL in his right knee when he awkwardly tripped over first base while beating out a double-play grounder. That came after hitting .335 as a teenager in the Venezuelan Winter League. His hand-eye coordination is off the charts, but he sometimes tries to force inside-out contact, which could give him trouble as he climbs the ladder and faces more back-foot sliders and late-moving cutters. He hits the ball to the opposite field nearly half the time but is learning to turn on pitches that leak over the inner half. His hit tool is easily his best feature, but he's more athletic than he appears and his feet work well around the bag. He also has good hands, an outgoing personality and leadership skills, which help offset below-average arm strength and speed. Arraez should open back in the Florida State League, where his career 8-percent strikeout rate (including winter ball) will be tested anew.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #12 prospect in 2017
  Signed for $40,000 as a 16-year-old in 2013, Arraez has done nothing but hit since joining the Twins. He owns a career .338 average as a pro and hit .347 in 2016 to claim the low Class A Midwest League batting title as a 19-year-old. Though undersized at 5-foot-10, Arraez has added about 30 pounds since signing. He's shown excellent bat control and contact ability. He hits to all fields with a line-drive, inside-out swing and lacks pull-side pop, and doesn't project to hit for much power going forward. While he is a plus hitter, Arraez's other tools are lacking. He is a fringy defender at second base, with below-average speed and a below-average arm. He makes up for deficiencies in his range with good hands and positioning, but he'll likely never be a standout defender and is limited to second base. Arraez's chance to be a major league player hinges solely on his hitting ability, making him a risky prospect. He has garnered comparisons within the organization to former Twins farmhand and current Padres third baseman Yangervis Solarte. Arraez will try to lead a new league in hitting when he moves up to high Class A Fort Myers in the Florida State League in 2017.