It could be back to the future for the surging Boston Red Sox.
That's because the club could be toying with a big-time addition to the roster for the stretch run.
"Craig Breslow, chief baseball officer, did not rule out this week the possibility that (Franklin) Arias reaches the majors this season," the Boston Globe's Tim Healey reported Thursday.
The 20-year-old Arias is the Red Sox's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and No. 7 overall.
“Physical gifts and tools wise, you can watch Franklin and feel like this guy’s going to play in the big leagues. But you never know,” interim manager Chad Tracy said, per Healey.
“The best thing you could do is [ask], does he have the physical skills to do it? And do you like the character and the mental capacity and the ability to overcome things when they aren’t going right? Those are two big ones. By all intents and purposes, from what I know about the kid, he’s got those skills," Tracy added, according to Healey.
Arias started the season with Double-A Portland and the Red Sox promoted him to Triple-A Worcester last month.
In 10 games with the WooSox, he's hitting .326 three home runs, 12 RBIs and a .981 OPS in just 10 games. So is a trip to Fenway Park in the cards for this season?
“I hate to put those types of expectations on a 20-year-old,” Breslow said Monday, per Healey.
“What I am very excited to say is every challenge he has faced, he’s met, which is pretty incredible for someone his age and what he has done at each level," Breslow added, according to Healey.
One interesting note: Healey reports Arias has seen some time in Triple-A at second base.
"“He’s doing great ... (and) is getting a little exposure to another position, which is another challenge. Those are all good things,” Tracy said, per Healey.
Despite having infielders Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Curtis Mead on the injured list, the Red Sox are riding an eight-game winning streak and have won 31 of their last 36 games overall to move within a half-game of the New York Yankees for the top spot in the American League Wild Card standings.