Despite scorching start, it'll be a while before Red Sox promote Franklin Arias to Triple-A

At some point last season, left-handed Payton Tolle eclipsed shortstop Franklin Arias as the top prospect in the Boston Red Sox system in the eyes of many. That had nothing to do with Arias losing steam as a prospect and more about Tolle being an absolute freak on the mound.

Despite that, some in the fan base seemed to feel the need to find fault in Arias. Clearly, Tolle surpassed him because of some glaring faults, and not just because Tolle was fantastic.

But Arias is here to remind you that he’s still one of the best prospects in baseball. The 20-year-old is off to an inhuman start in Double-A. After a multi-hit day on Wednesday, Arias is slashing .542/.613/.875 with two doubles and two home runs. That slash line is real, by the way.

The right-handed hitter has driven in eight runs, scored seven more, and stolen one base. Through seven starts, Arias has five multi-hit games. He’s walked four times and struck out twice. Both of those strikeouts came on Opening Day.

Arias has only appeared in two games where he didn’t record a hit. In the first, he went 0-for-2 with a walk and two HBP. The other saw Arias have one plate appearance; it was a pinch-hit opportunity, and he was immediately intentionally walked.

The only real knock that people had on Arias that actually had any kind of truth behind it was that he doesn’t have much power and would probably top out around 15 homers in a season. He’s homered in back-to-back games.

That likely isn’t an indicator that Arias is going to suddenly become Barry Bonds. However, it showcases that there is some power in the bat.

So, where does Arias go from here? Is he Triple-A bound? Do they have a plan for him? There’s a simple answer to this question. No.

Could top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias be sent to Triple-A following incredible start?

Arias has been otherworldly to start the season in Double-A. He’s only 20 and has 79 plate appearances in Double-A. He's silenced all the doubt and created plenty of buzz over the first two weeks of the season. He’s continuing to show he’s a fantastic defensive shortstop with an elite hit tool. However, throwing him into the fire in Triple-A just isn’t necessary right now.

There are still things the Red Sox can have him work on in Portland. And while Arias is legit, a 31 plate appearance sample size isn’t enough to warrant a promotion. More importantly, the Red Sox have everything figured out up the middle in the majors right now. And Triple-A features a lot of veterans or prospects closer to the majors (like Mikey Romero) filling up the infield.

If they need someone in a pinch, they’d rather go to Romero, Tsung-Che Cheng, Anthony Siegler, or Vinny Capra. The Red Sox would want those guys ready.

Arias will be in Triple-A at some point this year, and I believe he has a long future as an all-star-level and Gold Glove shortstop in the big leagues. Rushing him does no one any good, though.

The Red Sox have struggled out of the gate, and seeing a top prospect go nuclear in Double-A is exciting. Be patient with Franklin Arias, though, the reward will be worth the wait.

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