Red Sox top prospect Arias continues torrid run at Double-A
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Franklin Arias is in the midst of a six-game road trip with the Portland Sea Dogs and he may want to consider leaving his bags packed because it doesn't appear that there is too much left for the 20-year-old to do at the Double-A level.
The Red Sox's top-ranked prospect continued his torrid stretch at the plate -- recording his fourth multihit effort, while homering for the fourth time, over his past five games -- to lead Portland in a 6-2 victory over Binghamton at Mirabito Stadium on Wednesday.
Arias has compiled 10 total hits over his past five contests, with six going for extra bases, along with six RBIs and six runs scored. The native of Venezuela ranks in the top 3 at the Double-A level with a 1.079 OPS (second), .664 slugging (second) and .343 average (third). His 12 home runs and 95 total bases are fourth-most in the circuit.
Against the Rumble Ponies, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound righty swinger led off the game with a sharp line drive on a 2-0 fastball from Mets lefty prospect Gabriel Rodriguez that found the grass in right. Two innings later, Arias worked the count full against right-hander Dan Hammer before turning on the seventh pitch of the at-bat and sending it off the batter's eye in center for his 12th dinger of the year.
MLB's No. 11 overall prospect earned Double-A Eastern League Player of the Month honors for April after a scorching start in which Arias had two separate streaks of homering in three consecutive games. He carried that momentum into May as he has reached base safely in 17 of 18 games since the latest turn of the calendar, including nine straight games.
Known as one of the top defensive shortstops in the 2023 international class, Arias signed with Boston for $525,000 out of Venezuela. His offensive prowess continues to be a surprise as he consistently pummels baseballs over his first four pro seasons. Arias made his biggest climb through the Red Sox system as he rose from Single-A to Double-A last season during his age-19 season.
Signed as a glove-first prospect, Arias continues to exhibit a high baseball IQ that enables him to steal an occasional base and cover ground at shortstop. He's a plus defender with range to both sides and solid arm strength to boot. It's just a matter of time until he gets promoted to the Minors' highest level or makes the leap to The Show.