Franklin Arias was one of the biggest breakout prospects in baseball in 2026, but he won't be winning a minor league award
Just one year after graduating a trio of top-15 prospects, the Boston Red Sox once again have one of the sport's best prospects in their organization: shortstop Franklin Arias. The 20-year-old shortstop entered the season as Baseball America's No. 46 prospect, seen primarily as a glove-first player with a strong hit tool. However, thanks to a newfound power surge, Arias has seen his stock skyrocket, becoming not only the top prospect in the Red Sox system but also Baseball America's No. 2 prospect in baseball, trailing only Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jesus Made.
After getting a taste of the level at the end of the 2025 season, Arias began the season in Double-A Portland, where he quickly established himself as one of the best players at the level, hitting .318/.407/.587/.994 with 19 home runs in 75 games, surpassing his 2025 home run total of eight in his first 34 games.
After 3.5 of months of tearing up the Eastern League, Arias was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on July 23, picking up right where he left off in Portland. In 42 games with the WooSox, Arias hit .331/.388/.506/.894. However, he did see his power dip, hitting only six home runs.
Across both levels, the 20-year-old hit .323/.400/.557/.957 with 25 home runs and 28 doubles, drove in 91 runs, and posted a WRC+ of 145, tied for the 18th-best mark among all minor league hitters with at least 400 plate appearances.
After an incredible tenure in Portland, Arias earned both an Eastern League All-Star selection and Eastern League Player of the Year honors when Minor League Baseball handed out its Double-A awards Monday afternoon. Arias joined former teammates Anthony Eyanson and Brooks Brannon on the All-Star team. He was also named the Red Sox' Minor Leaguer of the Year by Baseball America.
Despite an impressive breakout season and a trophy shelf now filled with Eastern League awards, Arias was not named a nominee for Minor League Hitter of the Year, which will be announced on Sept. 28 by MLB Pipeline. Instead, the league will choose from Milwaukee Brewers No. 5 prospect, third baseman Andrew Fischer, who led all of Minor League Baseball with 48 home runs, Rays No. 1 prospect, outfielder Theo Gillen, and St. Louis Cardinals top prospect, catcher Rainiel Rodriguez.
For now, though, Arias will likely head to the Red Sox spring training facilities in Ft. Myers, where he will join several teammates from both Portland and Worcester on the Red Sox postseason taxi squad.
Up next for the Sox
After clinching a playoff berth on Sunday afternoon, the Red Sox have their final off day of the regular season on Monday before opening up the final homestand of the year on Tuesday when they welcome the Cleveland Guardians to Fenway Park for a three-game series. Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.02 ERA) will get the start opposite fellow rookie left-hander Parker Messick (12-9, 2.57 ERA) for Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
