Araes started at first base and went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. Miami went on to win 6-1.
Araúez, who won the American League batting 메이저사이트 title last season after hitting .547 (173-for-547) with eight home runs, 49 RBIs and a .795 OPS in 144 games, came to Miami via trade in January. Continuing his hot hitting in the National League, Arajes has pounded out 12 hits in his last four games, raising his average from 3-for-7 to 4-for-1 (85-for-212).
According to MLB.com, “Miami second baseman Arajes is chasing history. He’s the first player in Miami history to hit for the cycle and has a .400 on-base percentage through June. The National and American Leagues haven’t had a 4-for-4 hitter since Hall of Famer Ted Williams hit 4-for-4 in 1941 (.406),” noting Araúez’s quest.
MLB.com noted that Arajes had the ninth-highest batting average among hitters with regulation plate appearances in their first 62 games since 1941. The highest batting average for that criteria is Larry Walker (.422) in 1997. Walker finished the year 3-for-6 (.208 in 568 at-bats).
The closest anyone has come to hitting .400 since Ted Williams was Tony Gwynn in 1994. That year, he batted .390 (165-for-419). It’s unfortunate that his season ended early due to the players’ union strike when he was at the peak of his hitting late in the season. Gwynn needed just three more hits to reach .400. After him, George Brett (.390) in 1980, Ted Williams (.388) in 1957, and Rod Curry (.388) in 1977 came up short.
If Araúez wins the National League batting title this season, he will become the first player since 1900 to win back-to-back American League and National League batting titles.