MiLB.com predicts who the Red Sox top prospect will be heading into 2027
Spring training and the 2025 season haven’t gotten underway, and MiLB.com is already looking towards the future.
The Red Sox are heading into spring training owning the No. 1 farm system in the game, according to Baseball America. Roman Anthony (No. 2), Kristian Campbell (No. 4), and Marcelo Mayer (No.15) are within the top 20 for Boston.
All three are expected to impact the Red Sox roster either by Opening Day or mid-season. Once the “Big 3” are playing at Fenway Park, which player is the next Red Sox prospect that will top the prospect rankings in the game?
One prospect that has gotten praise from evaluators within the Red Sox organization is shortstop Franklin Arias, and according to MiLB.com, he is predicted to be the team’s top prospect in the system come 2027.
Arias is currently the No. 76 ranked prospect in baseball, per MiLB.com, and is considered a plus defender who has added some pop to his bat and more swing speed.
“One of the best defensive shortstops in the 2023 international crop, Arias has added strength and bat speed since signing for $525,000 out of Venezuela,” wrote MiLB.com. “He makes advanced swing decisions for a teenager and won Florida Complex League MVP accolades during his U.S. debut last year, leading the Rookie-level circuit in hitting (.355), on-base percentage (.471), slugging (.584) and OPS (1.055) while stealing 30 bases in 51 games.”
The 19-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2024, batting .309 with a .409 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging percentage, .896 OPS, nine homers, 25 doubles, two triples, 54 RBIs, 59 runs, 50 walks, 65 strikeouts, and 35 steals in 372 plate appearances between the Florida Complex League (51 games) and Low-A Salem (36 games).
Arias was named the 2024 Florida Complex League MVP and was also recognized as an FCL All-Star and the FCL’s top MLB prospect.
Defensively, Arias is considered a better fielder than Mayer with soft hands and advanced range. Even though he’s currently penciled in as a shortstop in the lower levels of the system, he might be better suited for second base as he elevates through the Sox’ system.
“He’s one of these guys that you can close your eyes and you know he’s going to field a ground ball,” Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said of Arias when speaking with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier back in July of 2024.
“He’s a very easy plus defender, which is, I think, what’s really exciting about him. The bat has always been behind, and now the bat is starting to creep up, and all of a sudden, you’re looking at a player who does a little bit of everything.”
One aspect of Arias’ game outside of his strong defense is that he has been exceptionally aggressive on the base paths, swiping 35 bags in 41 attempts. Baseball America grades Arias with a run tool 50 (major league average) on the 20-80 scale; on the flip side, MiLB grades Arias out at 55. He doesn’t have speed like Jarren Duran or David Hamilton but offers aggressiveness and good instincts when on base.
Arias is projected to begin the season with High-A Greenville, according to SoxProspects. After seeing his stock rise in 2024, Arias is primed to build upon last season and become a more household name among Red Sox fans, similar to Campbell, who had a meteoric rise through the system. If everything aligns, the athletic infielder has the ceiling of becoming an everyday player in the big leagues.
