The New York Yankees dumped the majority of their international signing funds into one prospect, Roderick Arias, out of the Dominican Republic. At 17 years old, Arias stands at 6’2″ and 178 pounds, a tangibly elite player for his age.
The Bombers have done a tremendous job filling their farm system with exceptional talent capable of elite play in the future if properly developed. Arias will begin his climb through the minor-league system in the coming years, but given his age, the Yankees shouldn’t expect to see him at the top level for at least three seasons.
Per MLB.com, Arias possess awesome defensive traits paired with power-hitting from both sides of the plate:
The top international prospect in the class, Arias is an extraordinary talent and the consensus No. 1.
There’s a lot to like about the teenager. Starting on the defensive side of the ball, Arias has plus arm potential. His throws are accurate and effortless, and he’s always in a position to make the throws. His arm is strong from any angle. He also shows good footwork with soft hands and above-average range.
At the plate, he exhibits above-average bat-to-ball skills and strike zone awareness. He shows good plate discipline and doesn’t swing and miss often. He shows power from both sides of the plate, especially by the right side. There’s good opposite-field power from the left side, and the overall package that could develop into a plus-plus hitter.
Arias was spotted launching home runs during batting practice this week, showcasing his power from the right side of the plate.
Yankees’ Roderick Arias seems to be seeing the ball well in BP
The 17 year-old is the No. 1 international free agent in the 2022 class pic.twitter.com/mXpOVEWVEc
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) March 1, 2022
Arias ranks No. 70 in The Prospect Vault, and if he can match his production from the right side to the left side of the batter’s box, the Yankees will have a polarizing prospect who can take over an infield spot down the line.
In the meantime, the Yankees are extremely excited about the development of Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, who should make her MLB debuts in the next year or so. Nonetheless, the Bombers have one of the best shortstop production lines in baseball climbing their ranks, which provides excitement for the future.