Claudio Arias

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #17 prospect in 2003
  Arias was known as Luis Herrera and believed to be 18 when he played in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2002. In the offseason, the Red Sox learned his true identity and birthdate, which made him two years older. They still view him as a prospect because he has top-of-the-scale raw power. Arias hit .350 before he injured a shoulder sliding headfirst. He may have come back too quickly because he batted just .162 after a two-week hiatus. His plate discipline is raw and he needs work defensively, though he showed good actions and a plus arm. "He's a big, strong kid with good power, and he looked like he was a good defender," Castillo said. "He didn't handle breaking pitches very well but with receptions this guy could click. If you throw him a fastball, whoa man, does he ever get after it."

• December, 2002 Scouting Report
  Arias was known as Luis Herrera and believed to be 18 when he played in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2002. In the offseason, the Red Sox learned his true identity and birthdate, which made him two years older. They still view him as a prospect because he has top-of-the-scale raw power. Arias hit .350 before he injured a shoulder sliding headfirst. He may have come back too quickly because he batted just .162 after a two-week hiatus. His plate discipline is raw and he needs work defensively, though he showed good actions and a plus arm. "He's a big, strong kid with good power, and he looked like he was a good defender," Castillo said. "He didn't handle breaking pitches very well but with receptions this guy could click. If you throw him a fastball, whoa man, does he ever get after it."