Top Prospect Franklin Arias Promoted to Double-A Portland

[Nick John]

The Boston Red Sox continue to be aggressive with the promotion of their young prospects, as Franklin Arias was promoted from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland Tuesday afternoon.

Arias, the team’s No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, joins his third team of the season after starting the year with Single-A Salem. In 106 games between Single-A and High-A, Arias slashed .279/.343/.383 with 25 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 58 RBIs. He also walked 38 times while striking out just 47 times.

Arias, who entered the season known for his amazing defensive skill at shortstop, broke out offensively by hitting .346/.407/.397 before his promotion to Greenville. He began his time with the Drive continuing to hit before struggling in June, where he slashed just .169/.228/.265 in 20 games. His numbers have slowly climbed since then, culminating in him hitting .253/.380/.337 in 22 games in August.

Arias, who won’t turn 20 years old until November, will be one of the youngest players in all of Double-A for the remainder of the season. Boston hopes he can respond to the increase in competition and prove why many prospect lists have him ranked as the best player in their farm system.

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[mvp 78]

He had a good August, so I hope he can continue swinging it for the next few weeks. 

[moonslav59]

I like the move.

I'd like to see Mullins in AAA.

[harmony]

Columnist Jim Bowden at The Athletic ranked Franklin Arias No. 32 on his Top 50 prospect list:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6587372/2025/09/03/top-mlb-prospects-rankings-griffin-wetherholt-mcgonigle/

Subscription required.

Arias was the only Red Sox farmhand on the list.

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, harmony said:

Columnist Jim Bowden at The Athletic ranked Franklin Arias No. 32 on his Top 50 prospect list:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6587372/2025/09/03/top-mlb-prospects-rankings-griffin-wetherholt-mcgonigle/

Subscription required.

Arias was the only Red Sox farmhand on the list.

No Tolle highway.

[notin]

13 hours ago, harmony said:

Columnist Jim Bowden at The Athletic ranked Franklin Arias No. 32 on his Top 50 prospect list:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6587372/2025/09/03/top-mlb-prospects-rankings-griffin-wetherholt-mcgonigle/

Subscription required.

Arias was the only Red Sox farmhand on the list.

They might not Sox have promoted too many others to MLB to still overpopulate any Top 50 list…

[mvp 78]

Arias has had a hit in each of his first three games. Went 2-5 with a HR last night. 

[mvp 78]

13 hours ago, harmony said:

Columnist Jim Bowden at The Athletic ranked Franklin Arias No. 32 on his Top 50 prospect list:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6587372/2025/09/03/top-mlb-prospects-rankings-griffin-wetherholt-mcgonigle/

Subscription required.

Arias was the only Red Sox farmhand on the list.

I don't trust Bowden to create any prospect list. 

[harmony]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

No Tolle highway.

From the column: (Note: Players promoted to the major leagues before Sept. 1 were not eligible for this list.)

Payton Tolle was called up on August 29.  Seattle catching prospect Harry Ford, who was called up on September 1, landed at No. 37 on Jim Bowden's list.

[harmony]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't trust Bowden to create any prospect list. 

Does that suggest that Franklin Arias does not belong on the list?😉

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, harmony said:

Does that suggest that Franklin Arias does not belong on the list?😉

32nd overall? I don't want to say how I feel because I'd get yelled at. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Red Sox should leave Arias at Portland for a year and then if he's hitting great, promote him to Boston.

Skip Worcester altogether, so it won't inflate his stats and make him think he's a home run hitter, which can lead to making him a strikeout whiffer in the majors -- if he's deluded enough.

I don't know why I just said that, I've only seen it with Campbell, Mayer, Anthony and Garcia so far this season.

Then again, Arias needs to show he can hit the best possible pitching before he leaves the minors -- so the Red Sox should just make Woo their Double A park, and use Portland for Triple A.

[mvp 78]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Red Sox should leave Arias at Portland for a year and then if he's hitting great, promote him to Boston.

Skip Worcester altogether, so it won't inflate his stats and make him think he's a home run hitter, which can lead to making him a strikeout whiffer in the majors -- if he's deluded enough.

I don't know why I just said that, I've only seen it with Campbell, Mayer, Anthony and Garcia so far this season.

Then again, Arias needs to show he can hit the best possible pitching before he leaves the minors -- so the Red Sox should just make Woo their Double A park, and use Portland for Triple A.

Worcester is supposedly more of a launching pad for lefties, but not really held up via park factors. It's more middle of the road for AAA ballparks. The reason hitters can rack up HRs is due to feasting on some mediocre pitching. It would happen at any ballpark in the International League. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't trust Bowden to create any prospect list. 

He's a lot more wrong than he is right. Passan is the only one I trust.

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

He's a lot more wrong than he is right. Passan is the only one I trust.

I wouldn't let Passan make a prospects list either. I'd trust him for news and rumors though. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Worcester is supposedly more of a launching pad for lefties, but not really held up via park factors. It's more middle of the road for AAA ballparks. The reason hitters can rack up HRs is due to feasting on some mediocre pitching. It would happen at any ballpark in the International League. 

Maybe, but I've been there several times every year this decade. The wind is always blowing out.

Worcester always get the worst weather, compared to nearby cities like Springfield, Hartford, and Boston. Higher elevation equals heavier rain, heavier snow, and a lot of double-headers from cancelled games (where presumably taxed bullpens throw more meatballs).

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I wouldn't let Passan make a prospects list either. I'd trust him for news and rumors though. 

Good point.