The San Francisco Giants have officially signed three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, who will return to the second base position.

During the Giants' pitchers and catchers spring training opener, the main focus was on their latest addition, three-time batting champion Luis Arraez.

Following the agreement on a one-year, $12 million deal with the Giants, Arraez promptly arrived at Scottsdale Stadium, putting on the black and orange jersey for the first time. The Giants won’t hold their first full-team practice until next Monday, but Arraez was already keen to readjust to second base, a position he hasn’t played full-time since 2023. On the side field, he worked closely with infield specialist Ron Washington, who organized several defensive drills for him that day.

“I believe he can help me a lot,” Arraez said. “I’m really excited to train with him and can’t wait to get started.”

Last season, Arraez primarily played first base for the Padres due to defensive considerations, but after entering free agency this winter, he was determined to return to his original position. Although other teams offered multi-year contracts, he preferred the Giants’ one-year deal because they promised him a chance to play second base.

“They gave me a great opportunity,” Arraez explained. “They trust me and want me to enjoy playing at the position I’m best at. That’s why I chose to come here.”

Reports indicate that the Giants previously explored trades for Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals, Nico Hoerner of the Cubs, and CJ Abrams of the Nationals, but ultimately settled on 28-year-old Arraez. Known for his elite hitting skills, the left-handed batter has maintained a career batting average of .317 over seven seasons with the Twins, Marlins, and Padres, ranking highest among active players.

Arraez led the National League in hits for the past two seasons, and his hitting prowess is exactly the quality highly valued by former NL batting champion Buster Posey, now the Giants’ baseball operations president. The Giants’ second baseman had an offensive index of only 0.617 in 2025, tied for 26th in the majors, so Arraez’s addition is expected to strengthen the lineup. The batting order is also expected to include third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames, and first baseman Rafael Devers.

Posey said, “We’re all confident in Ron Washington’s guidance to improve Luis’s defense. He’s one of the best hitters in the league—just look at his strikeout rate last year. He’s won three batting titles, and while we don’t get as excited about those titles as before, earning three before age 28 is impressive. I think he’ll fit very well in our lineup. As for defense, he and the coaching staff are committed to putting in the work.”

Last year, Arraez played 154 games for the San Diego Padres, hitting .292 with an offensive index of 0.719, including 8 home runs. His 3.1% strikeout rate was the lowest among qualified hitters since Tony Gwynn’s 2.6% in 1995.

Arraez summarized his hitting philosophy: “I hate striking out. Believe in yourself, compete every time you step up, and put the ball in play. Hitting is simple but not easy, and it’s definitely possible. That’s why we train every day—keep it simple and try to put the ball in play.”

Although Arraez excels at directing the ball to all parts of the field, his exit velocity is usually not outstanding. In 2025, his 16.7% hard-hit rate was the lowest among qualified hitters. Additionally, his OPS+ of 99 last year marked a career low, slightly below the league average.

Arraez believes a concussion he suffered in Houston last April affected his hitting performance, but he says he has fully recovered and is confident he can become a key hitter for the Giants. His hitting skills make him a good candidate to lead off, but he must produce enough power to compensate for defensive weaknesses. Since 2023, his defense has been 35 runs below average, ranking second to last in the majors ahead of only CJ Abrams.

The Giants may regularly rotate Casey Schmitt or Christian Koss at second base late in games to ease Arraez’s defensive burden. Arraez’s arrival is expected to transform Schmitt into a super-utility player, although Schmitt has already been accustomed to playing various infield positions with the Giants over the past three years.

Arraez is the Giants’ second free-agent position player signing this winter, following last month’s two-year, $20.5 million deal for outfielder Harrison Bader. The Giants have also bolstered their pitching staff by signing veteran starters Adrian Houser (two years, $22 million), Tyler Mahle (one year, $10 million), and relievers Sam Hentges (one year, $1.4 million) and Jason Foley (one year, $2 million).