PORTLAND — Shortstop Franklin Arias is the top prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, according to MLB Pipeline and soxprospects.com. Right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson is the team’s No. 2-ranked prospect by both services.
Both Arias and Eyanson are still here in Portland, playing for the Sea Dogs in Double-A, for now.
They rejoined the team this week after playing Sunday at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, a showcase for the top prospects in baseball. For Arias and Eyanson, it was a chance to show to the world what we’ve seen in Portland this season, and what people with a keen eye on the Red Sox farm system have known for a while.
These guys are pretty good.
“It was a very special day. I really enjoyed my time. It was a lot of fun being around a lot of talented players,” Arias said via interpreter Juan Rivera, Portland’s pitching coach, prior to a game Friday against the Somerset Patriots at Hadlock Field. “I really just wanted to be where my feet were. For the Futures Game, I really just wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. I definitely hung out with some guys. We talked some shop and talked some baseball.”
Arias was the starting second baseman and hit second for the American League, going 0 for 2 with an RBI. Eyanson earned the win after getting the final out in the fourth inning because the AL took the lead in the fifth. Even for a guy who a year ago was pitching for LSU in the deciding game of the College World Series, the experience of taking the ball on a big-league mound was different.
“Just being on that mound, being in that ballpark, playing against those future big leaguers, was really cool,” Eyanson said.
Getting selected for the Futures Game is a measuring stick for players who already have high expectations. Eyanson faced the type of hitters he’ll need to get out with regularity to make the jump from prospect to major league starter. Two months in Double-A have taught him that.
“It’s way more important to know your own arsenal. Know who you are as a pitcher, what sets up your strikeout pitches, stuff like that,” Eyanson said. “I think for me overall, it’s learning to compete in the zone more. You just have to have better execution from here on out.”
Since his promotion to Portland in early May, Eyanson has been outstanding. He has an earned-run average of 1.78 and 37 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Between Portland and Greenville, Eyanson has not thrown more than 5 2/3 innings in a game, and in Portland, he’s typically gone at least a week between starts. That’s the Red Sox taking care of their investment. Eyanson does nobody any good if his right arm gives out in Double-A.
And all Arias has done this season is, well, everything. He leads the Eastern League in batting average (.325) and slugging percentage (.596). He’s fourth in the league in home runs (18), and leads the Sea Dogs in RBI (48) and runs (47).
Those he’s normally a shortstop, playing second base at the Futures Game was nothing new for Arias, who has played five games there for the Sea Dogs this season. Whatever can make him more useful at the next level, he’ll do.
“I just try to think, it’s still baseball no matter where I am on the field. Some of the angles are certainly different than they are at shortstop, so there’s some sort of adjustment,” Arias said. “If I mentally keep telling myself, hey, it’s just baseball, just a different spot, I feel like that’s the best attitude to take.”
Eyanson is working on a cutter to add to his arsenal. His next chance to use it will be Saturday.
“Just to give hitters different looks, mess up their timing a little more. Having that bridge from the fastball to the slider,” he said.
The Futures Game was a nice showcase for Arias and Eyanson, a reward for a strong first half. The road to the majors is littered with guys who had strong first halves. For these two Sea Dogs , it has to be looked at as an acknowledgment of potential, not a promise of big league success.