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Red Sox's Franklin Arias: Dominant start at Double-A
Rotowire
Arias is hitting .542 with two home runs, one steal, a 12.9 percent walk rate and a 6.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 plate appearances for Double-A Portland.
His first homer of the season April 14 was a majestic shot to center-right field -- an impressive feat for a righty-hitting 20-year-old who is the third-youngest hitter at Double-A, behind Jesus Made and Leo De Vries. His second homer of the season April 15 was hammered to the pull side and he also stole his first base in that game. Arias' hit tool has long been one of the more advanced in the minors, and he seems to be heading for a power breakout in the upper levels.
Arias went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in his Double-A Portland debut Tuesday after being promoted from High-A Greenville.
He didn't hit for much power at High-A (.115 ISO), but Arias wasn't getting challenged as a hitter. His 8.9 percent strikeout rate and 0.91 BB/K were top-five marks among all qualified hitters at High-A. The righty-hitting Arias won't turn 20 years old until November, so any late-season struggles at Portland shouldn't be held against him. Public scouting reports are more bullish on Arias' shortstop defense this season than a year ago, and if he can stick at the position, it would put less pressure on him to tap into notable power.
Red Sox's Franklin Arias: Receives early promotion
Rotowire
The Red Sox will promote Arias from Single-A Salem to High-A Greenville this week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
After a stellar run in the Florida Complex League last summer, Arias received a taste of the Carolina League late in the 2024 campaign before returning to Salem to begin 2025. He hit .346/.407/.397 with four stolen bases in 86 plate appearances with Salem this season, and the Red Sox determined the 19-year-old infielder was ready for a tougher test.
Red Sox's Franklin Arias: Wrapping up strong age-18 season
Rotowire
Arias is slashing .309/.409/.487 with nine home runs, 35 steals on 41 attempts and a 65:50 K:BB in 87 games across the Florida Complex League and Carolina League.
The 18-year-old shortstop understandably did much more damage in the FCL (1.055 OPS) than after his July 23 promotion to Single-A Salem (.709 OPS), but it's still an accomplishment for him to be holding his own against Single-A pitching. Arias came into the year as a hit-over-power shortstop who had a strong chance of sticking at the position, and while that is all still true, he was more impressive with the bat and more prolific on the bases than expected.
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