Loaded Talent in the International Signing Pool, and Potential Twins Targets

9. Antonio Arias, OF, Venezuela

Arias is another guy who should add power as his frame fill out. He’s tall and stringy, standing 6’2″ and weighing 180 lbs. He’s an athletic runner who projects to play center field in the pros. There are things to like about his swing. He keeps his hands level and squares up nicely on the baseball. He does need to shorten his swing, however, if he wants to hit well at the higher levels. Scouts also comment on the difficulty Arias has hitting breaking balls and off speed pitches. The hope is that his pitch recognition will improve as he matures, but this is not always a safe bet, in my opinion. His older brother, Jesus, is a pitcher in the Cubs’ system. The Yankees are the front runners to sign Arias.