Franklin Arias Stats & Scouting Report

AB	55
AVG	.309
OBP	.377
SLG	.491
HR	2

Full name Franklin Alexander Arias
Born 11/19/2005 in Caracas, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: As an amateur in Venezuela, Arias showed natural actions on both sides of the ball, packaged in a projectable 145-pound frame, leading Boston to sign him for $525,000. After a strong Dominican Summer League performance in 2023, Arias got off to a solid start in the Florida Complex League before catching fire, hitting .434/.527/.736 with six homers and 22 steals over a 27-game stretch while showing true shortstop traits. That explosion earned him FCL MVP honors as well as a promotion to Low-A Salem in July.

Scouting Report: Arias is a well-coordinated athlete whose soccer roots are evident in the body control he exhibits both in the field and as a hitter. While he emphasized putting the ball in play and shooting the ball to right field with his clean righthanded swing as an amateur, he started to learn to pull the ball—a common theme with Red Sox prospects—to tap into power in 2024 while maintaining a low strikeout rate. Among 18-year-olds to bat at least 350 times, Arias’ .178 isolated slugging ranked fifth, while his 17.5% strikeout rate was second lowest. Evaluators are confident that Arias will be an average-or-better hitter with a chance to reach homer totals in the mid-teens or higher. Despite slightly below-average speed, he shows excellent anticipation and terrific footwork that permits him to make edge-of-range plays, suggesting at least average out conversion at shortstop. His arm is also above-average.

The Future: Arias offers evidence of the depth of talent in the Red Sox system behind Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel, and depending on how much strength and power he adds to his two-way profile, he could emerge as an elite prospect. He’ll likely open 2025 back in Salem but will be a candidate to move early if he builds on his 2024 performance.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The Red Sox relied heavily on their area scouts in Venezuela amid pandemic-driven restrictions on travel early in the scouting process. The team was drawn to Arias’ natural defensive actions, bat-to-ball skills and clearly projectable frame given that he weighed 145 pounds at the start of the scouting process. After Arias signed for $525,000 in 2023, he stood out for his advanced defense in the Dominican Summer League while making enough contact to rank 10th in average (.350) and draw more walks than strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Arias is raw offensively, but there’s room to add strength to his frame and add some power to a high-contact, line-drive approach that points to an above-average or better hit tool. Even if Arias’ power doesn’t develop, his smooth defensive actions with good range in both directions, impressive body control and strong arm give him a chance at having big league value. He’s an average runner with a chance to improve as he develops more burst.

The Future: Though years from the big leagues, Arias stands out for his multi-dimensional potential and chance to emerge as an everyday big league shortstop.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55

Top 100 Rankings

Career Transactions

SS Franklin Arias assigned to Boston Red Sox.
SS Franklin Arias assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox.
SS Franklin Arias assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox.
SS Franklin Arias assigned to FCL Red Sox from DSL Red Sox Red.
SS Franklin Arias assigned to DSL Red Sox Red.
Boston Red Sox signed free agent SS Franklin Arias to a minor league contract.

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