Unlikely Former Padre Was Off-the-Field Mentor to Luis Arraez

Arráez trained with this former Padre previously.

Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

Former San Diego Padre Nelson Cruz turned out to be an important mentor early in Luis Arráez's career. Arráez and Cruz played together together on the Minnesota Twins from 2019-21 as Arráez first came up to the majors.

Arráez credits Cruz for helping him become the player he is, recounting that Cruz flew him out to the Dominican Republic to train with him. Cruz helped Arráez better his nutrition and training, spending two months training closely together, per Annie Heilbrunn.

Nelson offered to fly Luis to the Dominican to train with him. He paid for everything & Luis stayed at his house. Nelson helped him with his nutrition so he could lose 15 lbs. He taught him the value of training, diet and taking care of his body, like he also did w/ Machado.

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) September 3, 2024

Luis Arraez 2-for-4 w/ two RBI. Enjoyed speaking with Luis about his relationship with Nelson Cruz, who he still talks with daily. Luis and Nelson were teammates with the Twins. As Luis tells it, he was not the hitter he is today. Nelson helped change that. 🧵

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) September 3, 2024

The training, which involved eating together, lifting weights, and hitting, was tough on Arráez, who admitted to Heilbrunn that he threw up on his first day of training with Cruz.

For two months, they trained. Starting at 9am, they ate breakfast, drank protein, lifted weights, lunch, rest, hitting. "My first day, I throw up," Arraez said. "Throwed up and I said, 'What am I doing here?"

He said he would not be the player he is today without Cruz. The end!

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) September 3, 2024

Since then, Arráez has emerged into one of MLB's most consistent hitters. After his time on the Twins with Cruz, Arráez was MLB's two-time batting champion and a two-time Silver Slugger winner in 2022 and 2023.

While Cruz is more of a slugger than Arráez, who is known for putting up singles and doubles, his training still significantly helped Arráez become a better player. The two still talk on the phone every day.

Arráez has hit no worse than .300 in each of the last three seasons, including hitting .354 in 2023. This season, Arráez is slashing .314/.343/.389 with four home runs and 41 RBIs, and made his third consecutive All-Star game. Since he was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Padres in early May, Arráez has helped a strong Padres lineup that has often carried the team to victories this season, especially since coming back from the All-Star break.

Cruz, who made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, finished his career in the 2023 season with the Padres.

Hitting a baseball at 109 MPH for a single in an MLB game on the day you turn 43 seems impressive. Happy birthday, Nelson Cruz! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/MP354Muatr

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 1, 2023

A seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Cruz slashed .245/.283/.399 with five home runs and 23 RBIs during his lone season in San Diego. In his prime, Cruz hit at least 40 home runs in three consecutive seasons from 2014-16.

Cruz announced his retirement from MLB following the conclusion of the 2023 season.