Before he was a Padre, Luis Arraez won batting titles in Minnesota and Miami. The 28-year-old infielder returned to Petco Park on Monday with his new employer, but that\u2019s not how Arraez views his relationships with his teams, past and present.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of emotional things today, especially for me,\u201d Arraez said after batting practice in the visiting dugout.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m playing on (a) team, I feel everybody\u2019s a family. And then San Diego, San Diego Padres last year and in 2024, they are my family. And then now I have another opportunity with San Francisco, and then I just need to come here and then enjoy myself. Enjoy the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Como en aquellos tiempos \ud83d\udc9b pic.twitter.com\/c2AiWhlY2A<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to enjoy days like Monday.<\/p>\n Arraez wandered to the Padres dugout before batting practice to greet A.J. Preller, the man who traded for him in May 2024. A parade of hugs, handshakes and laughs ensued as Arraez\u2019s former teammates \u2014 Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, etc. \u2014 poured out of the dugout for a pregame stretch.<\/p>\n Arraez greeted the security guards, the clubhouse attendants on the field and even the reporters he bantered with during his nearly two-year stay in San Diego.<\/p>\n The Padres honored Arraez with a pregame video tribute.<\/p>\n Even as he prepared to enter free agency, Arraez hoped his stay would last longer.<\/p>\n But with Jake Cronenworth locked at second base in San Diego and the 5-foot-10, 186-pound Arraez looking to get back in the middle of the infield after predominantly playing first base with the Padres, a reunion just wasn\u2019t in the cards.<\/p>\n \u201cThey (called) me a lot; we talked a lot,\u201d Arraez said. \u201cYes, they (wanted) to sign me back, but I want to go back to second base. I think it\u2019s a big opportunity for me, for my family. And then, I mean, I signed here for one year. I don\u2019t know what (will happen) later.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, the one-year, $12 million deal with the Giants \u2014 more than the Padres could pay \u2014 is essentially a chance to rebuild his value. He hit .316, .354 and .314 in winning three straight batting titles for the Twins, Marlins and Padres, but Arraez finished the 2025 season with a .career-low .719 OPS (.292\/.327\/.392).<\/p>\n Still, he was a clubhouse favorite and a key member of two Padres playoff teams.<\/p>\n \u201cAJ put (together) a good group, especially inside the clubhouse,\u201d Arraez said. \u201cWe have a really good relationship there. And it is what it is. This is business. That\u2019s why I\u2019m signing with San Francisco. They gave me a big opportunity to go back to second base. And I know AJ still loves me. I know. And then the other thing is, baseball is fun. It\u2019s hard, but it\u2019s not impossible.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just need to go there \u2026 and enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n Enter \u2018The Reaper\u2019<\/p>\n Sometimes a reliever\u2019s personal taste makes for a good entrance song. Sometimes he\u2019s open to input.<\/p>\n Take Mason Miller\u2019s new walkout to nu-metal band Korn\u2019s \u201cBlind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t listen to that kind of scene,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI listen to a lot of country and Christian music.\u201d<\/p>\n The 27-year-old Miller was born four years after Korn released \u201cBlind,\u201d a metal riff punctuated by a throaty \u201cAre you ready!?!?!\u201d that lands at Petco Park as Miller jogs to the mound. The choreography of all that is played against a grim reaper walking through the fog on the videoboard, a nod to \u201cThe Reaper\u201d nickname that he picked up with the Athletics.<\/p>\n Padres closer Mason Miller comes in for the first time in 2026! pic.twitter.com\/JAe39Ur9bD<\/a><\/p>\n