Prospect Franklin Arias proud to represent Red Sox and Venezuela in All-Star Futures Game
PHILADELPHIA — For elite prospects, selection to the All-Star Futures Game represents evidence that their talent and work is being recognized not only within their organization but across the game. The chance to play in a big league park — this year, Citizens Bank Park — makes tangible the dream young players are chasing.
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For Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias, this year’s Futures Game represented something beyond his own career. The 20-year-old became a no-brainer selection by hitting .325/.411/.596 with 18 homers in 70 games for Double-A Portland.
But while Arias — projected to be an everyday shortstop, but who played second and went 0 for 2 with an RBI ground out in the Futures Game — appreciated what the moment said about his career, he found it even more meaningful to represent his home country of Venezuela on a prominent stage.
“It’s actually very special to be able to represent the team, represent Boston here, but above all, [it’s meaningful] being able to lift my Venezuelan flag up high,” Arias — who had a custom glove and cleats with the Venezuelan flag — said through a translator. “It’s such a beautiful thing for me to do.”
Much like fellow countryman Willson Contreras, Arias has struggled to navigate his emotions on the field in the face of last month’s devastating earthquakes in his homeland. The Caracas native’s family wasn’t directly affected, but like so many others, he knows plenty of people whose lives have been upended.
“It’s definitely tough. Just like my brother Willson, who was out there shedding some tears, same thing for me,” said Arias. “You try to enjoy moments [in the game], but then sometimes you start remembering a little bit of the other things. You try to just go in [and play], but it’s definitely a difficult time right now.”
Still, Arias has managed to continue to excel, combining strong defense at short with excellent plate discipline and swing decisions, elite contact, and surprising power. His 18 homers this year match his total from his prior three pro seasons.
The biggest question hovering over his development is when he’ll be promoted to Triple-A Worcester — or if, on a team that has surged back to contention, there might be a path to the big leagues in 2026. As has been the case all year, Arias (who was slated to return to Portland from Philadelphia) isn’t dwelling on the subject.
“Not really thinking about that. … It’s all in Boston’s hands,” said Arias. “If they do give me the opportunity, I’m going to go compete. But for now, I’m just taking it day by day and trying not to think about it.”
Sea Dogs teammate Anthony Eyanson also represented the Sox at the Futures Game. His entry came after a false start. During a mound meeting with one out, he jogged to the infield from the bullpen, only to be sent back to the bullpen for one more batter, then making another U-turn to enter the game.
“Ran out there, saw the pitching coach with his hands palms up, like, ‘What are you doing?’ That was my cue just to run back,” chuckled Eyanson.
Eyanson, whose fastball sat at 93-94 miles per hour (perhaps depleted by the running), walked the first batter he faced, then got an inning-ending fly out. Less important than those details, however, was his chance to be in the game.
Almost exactly a year earlier, he was seen as a potential first-rounder out of LSU. Instead, he slipped to the Sox in the third round.
But in pro ball, he’s added power to his fastball, raised his arm slot to create a unique vertical attack with his breaking pitches, added a cutter, and dominated. He is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 34 percent strikeout rate in High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, forging a place as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and earning selection to the Futures Game.
“[Getting to the Futures Game] has been a goal for mine — one of my goals for so long — and I’ve just done anything in my power to be in this position,” said Eyanson. “Being surrounded by all these [prospects], they’re future big leaguers, future successful people on and off the field. It’s just really cool to be a part of this thing.”
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