MIAMI — Venezuelan Marlins second baseman Luis Ares is looking to make history in 2023.
Arráez, became The first member of the fish to hit for the cycle On April 11, he hit a .400 average in June. Hall of Famer Ted Williams was the last player in American League/National League history to hit that milestone, hitting .406 in 1941.
The 26-year-old infielder became the first player since 1900 to win both the Young Circuit and Old Circuit in back-to-back seasons. As a member of the Twins in 2022, Ares won the batting title with a .316 average. Miami then acquired him on January 20, 2023 in exchange for his compatriot Pablo Lopez.
Based on current eligibility rules, since 1941, the highest batting average in a team’s first 63 games:
Andres Gallarraga (1993): .435
Chipper Jones (2008): .420
Larry Walker (1997): .416
Ted Williams (1941): .412
Rod Carew (1983): .409
Paul O’Neill (1994): .405
Luis Ares (2023): .403
Tony Quinn (1997): .402
Stan Musial (1948): .402
John Olerud (1993): .400
Most recent in a season (through team games) a player hit .400 or better
From Ted Williams in 1941
134 Games — George Brett (1980)
107 Games — John Olerud (1993)
96 Games — Larry Walker (1997)
92 Games — Tony Quinn (1997)
91 games — Nomar Garciaparra (2000)
85 Games — Rod Carew (1983)
85 Games — Rod Carew (1977)
Tony Quinn’s .394 average was the best by a rated hitter since Williams, but that came in a strikeout-shortened season (1994) and the last time his average dipped below .400 was on May 16, in 37 games at San Diego.
Check this space to follow Arráez’s progress day by day.
June 7: 2-for-4 (.403)
Ares started the bottom of the first game, but then singled and scored in the third and did the same in the eighth, helping Miami extend its winning streak to 6-1 with a 6-1 victory over Kansas City. to sweep Ares has more than one win in 27 of 58 games this season. He also has seven hits in his last three games.
June 6: 2-for-4 (.401)
After going hitless in his first two at-bats against veteran Zack Greinke, Ares bounced back with two hits in the Marlins’ 6-1 win over Kansas City at Lone Depot Park. Ares drove in a single off Greinke in the fifth inning, then singled to center off right-hander Jackson Kovar in the seventh. Arráez has combined for more than one hit in 26 of 57 games played this season.
June 5: 3-for-4 (.399)
Ares dominated on a ground ball to open second base with a single Royals won 9-6 at Loan Depot Park before allowing a hit in his last three at-bats. Venezuela had an RBI double down in the third inning, then drove in a run with a single to center field and had another hit in the sixth. It was Arrez’s 25th two-hit game of the season and his eighth game with at least three hits.
