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Boston Red Sox Prospect One of Baseball America's Biggest Risers
TL;DR
Boston Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias has risen to No. 16 on Baseball America's Top 100 list after a strong start to the 2026 season. At just 20 years old, he is hitting .346 with a league-leading slugging percentage in Double-A Portland.
Key points
- Franklin Arias is a top prospect for the Boston Red Sox.
- Arias is ranked No. 16 on Baseball America's Top 100 list.
- He is hitting .346 with a league-leading slugging percentage in Double-A.
- Arias was named Eastern League Player of the Month for April 2026.
- Payton Tolle is the Red Sox's top-rated prospect, ranked No. 8.
Boston Red SoxFranklin AriasEastern LeagueBaseball America
There are few farm systems in baseball with a thinner group of position player prospects than the Boston Red Sox. After the graduations of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, as well as an offseason trade that sent Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh, the Red Sox have seen their farm system depleted of nearly all their top hitting prospects, except for shortstop Franklin Arias. Luckily for Boston, Arias has a newfound power stroke that has made him one of the fastest-rising prospects in all of baseball. In Baseball America's first update to its Top 100 prospect list of the 2026 season, Arias was one of the biggest risers in the sport. Arias entered the 2026 season as Baseball America's No. 46 prospect, seen as a plus defender at shortstop with a solid hitting tool. Thanks to that new power stroke, Arias is doing everything he can to dispel that notion.
ANOTHER homer for Franklin Arias on Thursday 🤯 pic.twitter.com/W8CHwLmrMQ
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) May 2, 2026 After getting a taste of the level at the end of 2025, the 20-year-old Arias was assigned to Double-A Portland at the outset of 2026, where he hit the ground running. Through 23 games with the Sea Dogs, Arias is hitting .346/.426/.704, matching his 2025 home run total of eight in just the first month of the season, and ranking in the top 10 in the Eastern League in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, and wRC+, while leading the league in slugging percentage. Top 100 risers 📈
See where they rank + all the latest movement here: pic.twitter.com/qjz2dThwhM
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 6, 2026 His fantastic start to the season earned him Eastern League Player of the Month honors for April and a huge boost on Baseball America's Top 100 list, rising 30 spots to No. 16. What is most impressive about Arias' rise through the ranks is his age: at 20-years-old, he is the fourth-youngest prospect in Double-A, nearly four years younger than the average player at the level. Arias is the second-rated prospect in the Boston system according to SoxProspects.com, profiling as a "Potential everyday regular at shortstop. Ceiling of a quality regular who provides value with his glove and contact ability. Defensive profile provides him a solid floor." Franklin Arias PINCH-HIT, WALK-OFF HR 💥
Q&A
What is Franklin Arias' current ranking among MLB prospects?
Franklin Arias is currently ranked No. 16 on Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list.
How is Franklin Arias performing in the 2026 season?
Arias is hitting .346 with a slugging percentage of .704 in Double-A Portland, matching his 2025 home run total of eight in just the first month.
What honors has Franklin Arias received recently?
Arias was named Eastern League Player of the Month for April 2026 due to his impressive performance.
Who are the other top prospects in the Boston Red Sox system?
Besides Franklin Arias, the Red Sox's top prospects include Payton Tolle, who is ranked No. 8, and Anthony Eyanson, who has recently been promoted to Double-A.