NEW YORK -- When they acquired infielder Luis Arraez from the Twins in January, the Marlins knew he was going to be a consistent hitter. To this point, he’s proved them right. Continuing his momentum from winning the American League batting title in 2022, Arraez has gone 14-for-30 (.467) in his first nine games.

However, the Marlins have been pleasantly surprised by Arraez’s defense at second base. Entering Sunday’s action against the Mets, when he celebrated his 26th birthday, Arraez hasn’t made an error in 31 chances. But it’s more than just the errorless streak that has impressed the Marlins’ brass.

“I knew he was an average fielder,” general manager Kim Ng said. “But from what I’ve seen, the range has been better than I thought it would be. The agility and hands have been better than I thought it would be. When you are watching him every day, you definitely grow a better appreciation for what he does on a daily basis.”

Arraez wasn’t playing second base for most of Spring Training. He was playing first base for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but Arraez practiced with coach Ramon Borrego at second base before the tournament started. Once he returned to the Marlins, he worked vigorously with third-base coach Jody Reed.

“I [go to the Marlins] and do my routine every day,” Arraez said. “We practice [game situations] and I do it in the game, too,”

During his five years in the big leagues, Arraez has played all of the infield positions and left field, but he made it clear Sunday that second base is the position he wants to play for the rest of his career. He also has loftier dreams of hardware and accolades in his head.

“I love second base. It’s my favorite position,” Arraez said. “I need to play baseball hard and make the plays. Let’s see if I win the Gold Glove.”