BOSTON -- The summer of Franklin Arias continued on Wednesday morning as the Boston Red Sox' top prospect saw another big jump into the top five prospects in baseball as Baseball America released its June update to the Top 100 prospects. 

After entering the season as the No. 46 prospect in the sport, Arias got off to a fantastic start with Double-A Portland, hitting .375/.432/.764 with eight home runs in 20 games en route to being named the Eastern League Hitter of the Month for April. He was one of BA’s biggest risers in their May update, jumping to No. 16 in the sport. 

Now, after another fantastic month that saw him hit .294/.378/.506 in 21 games, the 20-year-old shortstop made another big jump into the top five, checking in as the fourth-ranked prospect in baseball. 

Heading into the season, Arias was seen as a glove-first prospect with a strong hit tool, whose ceiling would be determined by his ability to grow into power. Well, he has found that power stroke in a major way in his third season of professional play. After hitting just eight home runs in 116 games in 2025, Arias surpassed that number in April alone and now leads the entire Red Sox organization with 13 home runs in just 42 games. Overall, Arias is hitting .327/.397/.630 with 33 RBI in those 42 games. 

What is most impressive about Arias’ breakout campaign is that he is doing it at such a young age. At 20-years old, Arias is the fourth-youngest player in Double-A behind fellow top five prospects Jesus Made (No. 1) of the Milwaukee Brewers and Leo De Vries (No. 2) of the Athletics, as well as Rainiel Rodriguez of the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Baseball America becomes the second major publication in as many weeks to rank Arias inside the top five prospects in the sport, after the Athletic’s Keith Law ranked the shortstop as the third-best prospect in the sport.

Arias’ placement in multiple top-five lists is a clear indication that the baseball world is buying into the newfound power. 

With Payton Tolle’s graduation from prospect status, the Red Sox have three players ranked in Baseball America’s June update. Arias is joined by right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson (No. 43) and outfielder Justin Gonzales (No. 88). Noticeably absent from the rankings is 2025 first-round pick Kyson Witherspoon, who, thanks to a rough start to his professional career, has fallen out of the top 100. 

Meanwhile, back in the big leagues, the Red Sox will take on the Orioles in game two of a three-game set on Wednesday night. Tolle (2-2, 2.61 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.06 ERA) for Baltimore. First pitch from Fenway Park set for 6:45 p.m. ET. 

The Red Sox are currently in last place in the American League East. 

Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!