Keith Law of The Athletic is still high on the Boston Red Sox system despite Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer reaching the major leagues and graduating from his top 100 list.
Franklin Arias entered the year in most people's top 100. However, he wasn't considered anywhere close to the "Big Three" of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer. Arias was viewed more as a young lottery ticket with clear talent in Single-A, and he still had a lot to prove.
Through two months of the season, he's proven himself, so much so that Law has Arias ranked as his eighth-best prospect in all of baseball in his new top 100 list for The Athletic. Unsurprisingly, Anthony ranks No. 1. Jhostynxon "The Password" Garcia, who's breaking out in Triple-A, sits all the way down at No. 46.
That's high praise for Arias, but it's praise that he deserves. The right-handed hitting shortstop slashed .346/.407/.397 with two doubles in 19 games in Single-A to start the year. He drove in nine runs, scored 15 more, and stole four bases.
Keith Law raves about Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias, ranks him at No. 8 in his top 100
No one would've blamed the 19-year-old for struggling in High-A following the promotion. He went hitless (0-for-11) in his first three games with Greenville but has been perhaps the best hitter in the minor leagues since then. Arias is slashing .374/.415/.535 with eight doubles, one triple, and two home runs in 23 games in High-A. He's driven in 18 runs, scored 13 more, and stolen three bases.
Arias is doing all that while batting leadoff and playing fantastic defense at shortstop. It's clear why Law is so high on him.
I should note that I will always caution people to take Law's rankings with a grain of salt. That even goes for his positive takes. Law is phenomenal at his job, but he's also covering every minor league team when doing rankings. He once changed his tune on a pitching prospect because he said he had finally seen them pitch, and their breaking ball was one of the best he had seen. Law simply can't watch every game of every team. He's going to miss some elite prospects at times.
However, that shouldn't discount how good Arias is. He's shown an incredible hit tool, great defense, good speed, and some promise in his pop. The Red Sox might have another franchise shortstop on their hands.