Roderick Arias

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 60/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Arias was the Yankees’ top signing in the 2022 international period, garnering a $4 million bonus that was the second-highest in the class. The shortstop spent his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League, but his year was limited by injury to just 31 games. He moved stateside to the Florida Complex League in 2023 and showed flashes of potential all-star upside before a broken thumb brought his season to a close after just 27 games.
  
  Scouting Report: In an FCL loaded with talent, Arias stood above nearly all the rest as one of the clear-cut top prospects in the league. He came by his accolades thanks to a set of eye-popping tools that could make him a fixture in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup in a few years. He has the potential to be at least an above-average hitter thanks to an outstanding feel for the strike zone and an unwillingness to chase, albeit with a slightly elevated rate of in-zone miss relative to age and level. When Arias connects, he does damage. His exit velocities and barrel rate were better than average, including a 90th percentile EV of 103.5 mph. He hit six home runs before the injury, including one off the batter’s eye against big leaguer Alek Manoah. Arias has a strong shot to stick at shortstop and got better as the year went along. He handles most anything hit his way and has the elite arm strength to erase runners on balls hit deep in the hole. Arias is an extremely athletic player who is a plus runner who glides around the basepaths, especially when he gets underway.
  
  The Future: Arias will get his first test of full-season ball in 2024, when he will continue down a development path that could lead him to a starring role in New York. He’s got a long way to go until then, and he must stay healthy as well.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Arias was the jewel of the Yankees' 2021-22 international class and signed for $4 million, the second-highest bonus in the class behind only the Nationals' Cristian Vaquero. As an amateur, he was lauded for an enviable blend of tools and projectablity. Arias' pro debut was delayed by a minor thumb injury, but he showed hints of his talent throughout his time in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Report: Arias' swings from both sides of the plate are quick and compact and he's shown solid ability to identify spin in both showcases and against live pitching. The rust showed a bit when Arias returned from the injured list on July 4, roughly a month into the DSL season, which some evaluators believe might have been a hair too early. The Yankees tailor their hitting department around the development of exit velocity, and he showed early signs of being able to hit the ball very hard. His average EV in a limited sample was 88.7 mph, which is outstanding for someone so young. Defensively, he's got the skills and actions to be an everyday shortstop but his railgun of an arm stands out. His elite arm strength allows him to make every throw both strong and accurate from every angle.
  
  The Future: After spending his first season in the DSL, Arias will move to the Florida Complex League in 2023. He has one of the highest ceilings in the system and will hope for better luck with health.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 80.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #68 prospect in 2024
• Ranked Baseball America's #87 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Arias was the jewel of the Yankees' 2021-22 international class and signed for $4 million, the second-highest bonus in the class behind only the Nationals' Cristian Vaquero. As an amateur, he was lauded for an enviable blend of tools and projectablity. Arias' pro debut was delayed by a minor thumb injury, but he showed hints of his talent throughout his time in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Report: Arias' swings from both sides of the plate are quick and compact and he's shown solid ability to identify spin in both showcases and against live pitching. The rust showed a bit when Arias returned from the injured list on July 4, roughly a month into the DSL season, which some evaluators believe might have been a hair too early. The Yankees tailor their hitting department around the development of exit velocity, and he showed early signs of being able to hit the ball very hard. His average EV in a limited sample was 88.7 mph, which is outstanding for someone so young. Defensively, he's got the skills and actions to be an everyday shortstop but his railgun of an arm stands out. His elite arm strength allows him to make every throw both strong and accurate from every angle.
  
  The Future: After spending his first season in the DSL, Arias will move to the Florida Complex League in 2023. He has one of the highest ceilings in the system and will hope for better luck with health.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 80.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Arias was the jewel of the Yankees' 2021-22 international class and signed for $4 million, the second-highest bonus in the class behind only the Nationals' Cristian Vaquero. As an amateur, he was lauded for an enviable blend of tools and projectablity. Arias' pro debut was delayed by a minor thumb injury, but he showed hints of his talent throughout his time in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Report: Arias' swings from both sides of the plate are quick and compact and he's shown solid ability to identify spin in both showcases and against live pitching. The rust showed a bit when Arias returned from the injured list on July 4, roughly a month into the DSL season, which some evaluators believe might have been a hair too early. The Yankees tailor their hitting department around the development of exit velocity, and he showed early signs of being able to hit the ball very hard. His average EV in a limited sample was 88.7 mph, which is outstanding for someone so young. Defensively, he's got the skills and actions to be an everyday shortstop but his railgun of an arm stands out. His elite arm strength allows him to make every throw both strong and accurate from every angle.
  
  The Future: After spending his first season in the DSL, Arias will move to the Florida Complex League in 2023. He has one of the highest ceilings in the system and will hope for better luck with health.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 80.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  August Update: Arias was the crown jewel of the Yankees&#39 most recent international class and was one of the best players available overall. After missing time early in the season, he has made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, showing a good mix of patience, power and athleticism.
  
  Track Record: For some scouts, Arias was the best player available in the 2021-22 international signing class, with the Yankees making him the headliner of their group when he signed on Jan. 15, 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Arias is a well-rounded shortstop with a balance of tools, skills and athleticism at a premium position. With a lean, athletic frame, Arias has good bat speed and a sweet swing that&#39s compact and adjustable from both sides of the plate. As an amateur, he showed the ability to recognize spin well for his age and hit well against live pitching. He makes hard contact, producing exit velocities up to 105 mph with a tick more power from the right side and a chance to grow into above-average power as he fills out. His plus speed could slow a tick as he gets bigger, but he projects to stick at shortstop with the hands and footwork for the position. He finishes plays with his best tool, an arm that conservatively draws plus-plus grades and might be an 80 tool.
  
  The Future: While Arias has yet to make his pro debut, the upside is there for him to be one of the elite prospects in the system.