How tough is it to hit .400? A look at those who came close. Plus other feats Arraez is chasing
Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez is in the midst of one of arguably the closest chase for a .400 batting average this millennium.
No player in MLB has finished a season with a batting average that high since Ted Williams hit .406 in the 1941 season. In fact, no qualified player has finished with at least a .375 batting average since the 1999 season.
Arraez, meanwhile, enters the Marlins’ series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday with a .388 batting average. He has 124 total hits, 35 multi-hit games, 12 three-hit games, five four-hit games and three five-hit games.
Whether Arraez will have a .400 batting average or not will be a story that will unfold over the final three months of the season. Regardless of that mark, Arraez could still set or have his name in contention for a slew of other records as well.
Here is a by-the-numbers look at some of the feats Arraez could achieve in 2023.
Highest single-season batting averages since Ted Williams in 1941 (minimum 500 plate appearances)
George Brett (1980) — .390
Ted Williams (1957) — .388
Rod Carew (1977) — .388
Larry Walker (1999) — .379
Stan Musial (1948) — .376
Latest into a season (by team games) a player has hit .400+ since Ted Williams in 1941
George Brett (1980) — 134 games (finished the season hitting .390)
John Olerud (1993) — 107 games (finished the season hitting .363)
Larry Walker (1997) — 96 games (finished the season hitting .366)
Tony Gwynn (1997) — 92 games (finished season hitting .372)
Nomar Garciaparra (2000) — 91 games (finished season hitting .372)
Highest single-season batting averages in Marlins history
Hanley Ramirez (2009) — .342*
Miguel Cabrera (2006) — .339
Luis Castillo (2000) — .334
Dee Strange-Gordon (2015) — .333*
Hanley Ramirez (2007) — .332
*Won National League batting title
Most single-season hits in Marlins history
Juan Pierre (2004) — 221
Hanley Ramirez (2007) — 212
Dee Strange-Gordon (2015) — 205
Juan Pierre (2003) — 204
Dee Strange-Gordon (2017) — 201
Most five-hit games in a season in MLB history
Ty Cobb (1922) — 4
Stan Musial (1948) — 4
Tony Gwynn (1993) — 4
Ichiro Suzuki (2004) — 4
-Arraez is one of 18 with three five-hit games in a season.
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