Luis Arraez says it's a 'blessing' to play in front of Phillies fans

Luis Arraez says it's a 'blessing' to play in front of Phillies fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Luis Arraez at the 2026 MLB trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants, and he's been a great addition to the ballclub.

He had a little bit of a rough patch, but has overall been playing great. In the Phillies' 4-1 win over his former team, the Miami Marlins, he hit a two-run homer, his second as a Phillie.

After the game, Arraez told reporters, including Colin Newby of 975 The Fanatic, that it's a "blessing" to play in front of Phillies fans, calling them a "beautiful crowd" amid some heartfelt appreciation for the fans.

"A blessing, especially to play for the beautiful crowd," Arraez said. "(They) support me a lot, and I want to say thanks to them. I just want to go again and play like a kid, have fun, and win some games."

Phillies fans can surely appreciate Arraez's message, as the new Phillie is clearly a fan of his new fanbase; otherwise, he wouldn't use such glowing remarks about them like he did Wednesday night.

In 15 games with the Phillies since the trade, Arraez has a .288 batting average with a .744 OPS, a bit below his season-long marks, but still quite strong.

During the six-game win streak, Arraez is hitting .423 with a 1.021 OPS, with five RBIs and one home run.

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He's been a great pickup for the Phillies, and he's gotten to experience playing in front of the raucous home crowd at Citizens Bank Park.

He thanked Phillies fans for their support and also called it a blessing to play for the fans. If Phillies fans weren't already on board with the Arraez addition, these comments should make them feel even stronger about the major deadline pickup.

If Arraez keeps up his production and things go well, it might not be a surprise to see Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies sign Arraez long-term.

He's already meshing well with the fan base and is clearly a good player who's also a good fit on this team. This has been a great trade, as everyone, so far, is coming away happy.

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