Overview
- The Red Sox moved 20-year-old shortstop Franklin Arias from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, putting him one step from the major leagues.
- Arias led the Eastern League in OPS and ranked among the leaders in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and homers during his breakout season in Double-A.
- He added weight and altered his swing in the offseason, and his power jumped dramatically as he hit nearly as many homers in 74 games this year as he had in his first 240 minor-league games.
- National prospect services boosted his standing this month, with Baseball America placing him near the top of its list and MLB Pipeline ranking him among baseball's elite prospects and the Red Sox's top prospect.
- The club kept him in Double-A for extended development, so he must show he can handle Triple-A before any big-league call, though Trevor Story's injury history creates a possible opening later this season.