Red Sox SS prospect Franklin Arias went 1-for-2 with a solo homer on Friday for Double-A Portland.
Arias has homered in three consecutive contests and leads the entire minors in batting average (.538), on-base percentage (629) and OPS (1.591). The 20-year-old shortstop prodigy has displayed some of the strongest plate skills in the lower minors over the last few years and he’s clearly added some strength and bat speed this season, emerging as one of the more intriguing prospects in the fantasy landscape. He’s highly unlikely to develop into an elite power source at the highest level, but pairing double-digit over-the-fence pop and steals with an above-average hit tool and elite defense set an extremely high fantasy floor. It’s extremely early for definitive statements, but Arias is on pace to finish the year as one of the top prospects in baseball.