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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Red Sox's Franklin Arias: Heading stateside in 2024?
Rotowire
Arias is expected to debut in the Florida Complex League in 2024, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Arias was signed as an amateur international free agent out of Venezuela early in 2023, then played in the Dominican Summer League. He batted .350/.440/.453 with one home run, nine doubles, one triple, 32 runs and 15 RBI over 159 plate appearances. Arias showed strong contact skills, striking out at just an 8.8 percent clip while drawing more walks (19) than strikeouts (14). The 18-year-old shortstop could fill out (he's listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and provide more pop, but right now, Arias is known for defense and contact.
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