The Boston Red Sox parted ways with four of their top 10 prospects before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Franklin Arias, their No. 1-ranked prospect, was not one of them.
Arias remains with Triple-A Worcester, where he continues to show why he’s considered Boston’s shortstop of the future. The 20-year-old could even make his big-league debut before the end of this season if the Red Sox feel that he’d provide a needed spark to the lineup and the middle of their infield.
Rather than move Arias in a blockbuster deal, the Red Sox sent right-hander Anthony Eyanson (former No. 2 Sox prospect), righty Kyson Witherspoon (No. 3), outfielder Enddy Azocar (No. 6), OF Harold Rivas (No. 10), and catcher Carlos Narvaez to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman. The move was a significant blow to Boston’s farm system, but the hope is that Rutschman can play a key role in a deep postseason run for this year’s club and eventually sign a long-term extension.
So, with Eyanson, Witherspoon, Azocar, and Rivas no longer in the mix, who joined Boston’s top 10 prospect list? Here’s how the new-look group has fared as of late (rankings via SoxProspects.com):
1. Franklin Arias, SS
2026 stats: .310/.392/.554, 23 HR, 76 RBI, 47 BB, 67 SO (75 games at Double-A Portland, 28 games at Triple-A Worcester)
MLB ETA: 2027
Franklin Arias earned his promotion to Triple-A Worcester on July 25, and while he hasn’t produced the eye-popping numbers he put up in Portland, he still looks like a future star.
Arias has hit .290 with seven doubles, four homers, and an .817 OPS in 28 games with the WooSox, all while providing above-average defense at shortstop and second base. Perhaps we’ll see the 20-year-old make his MLB debut sometime in September, but it’s looking more likely that’ll happen sometime in 2027.
2. Justin Gonzales, RF
2026 stats: .282/.397/.479, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 62 BB, 88 SO (89 games at High-A Greenville, nine games at Double-A Portland)
MLB ETA: 2028
Gonzales was promoted to Double-A Portland on Aug. 18. Through nine games with the Sea Dogs, the 6-foot-5 19-year-old is slashing .375/.457/.625 with two homers and 10 RBI.
We know what Gonzales is capable of at the plate, but on Saturday, he showed what he can do with his arm. He fielded a ball off the right-field wall and gunned out the runner at second base with an incredible throw.
Arias has stolen the headlines as Boston’s No. 1 prospect, but it’s time for Gonzales to start getting national recognition.
3. Franklin Primera, C
2026 stats: .371/.505/.589, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 46 BB, 32 SO (32 games for FCL Red Sox; 41 games at Low-A Salem)
MLB ETA: 2029
Primera is a rising star in the Red Sox system, working his way up to No. 3 in SoxProspects’ rankings after starting the year outside of the top 10.
The 19-year-old catcher has hit the daylights out of the ball this season between rookie ball and Low-A Salem. The question is whether he’s good enough defensively to stick at catcher. Reviews of his defense behind the plate have been mixed so far in his young pro career.
Nonetheless, Primera has been unfazed by his promotion to Low-A, and his next promotion shouldn’t be too far away.
4. Henry Godbout, SS
2026 stats: .261/.394/.467, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 33 BB, 46 SO (Five games at Low-A Salem, 34 games at High-A Greenville, 14 games at Double-A Portland)
MLB ETA: 2028
Godbout returned from the injured list on July 31 after missing two months due to a broken hand. The 22-year-old was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 11.
Since his promotion, Godbout has experienced some growing pains. The University of Virginia product has hit .218 with a .745 OPS in 14 games with the Sea Dogs. His power has stood out, however, as he has four homers so far with Portland.
5. Juan Valera, RHP
2026 stats: 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 0.857 WHIP, 4 BB, 17 SO (three starts at High-A Greenville)
MLB ETA: 2029
Valera underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery after three strong starts for Greenville. The talented 20-year-old moved into the top five following the departures of Eyanson, Witherspoon, and Azocar.
6. Jake Schaffner, SS
2026 stats: .301/.356/.398, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 6 BB, 19 SO (18 games at High-A Greenville)
MLB ETA: 2029
Schaffner was the Red Sox’s first-round pick (20th overall) in this year’s MLB Draft. The former University of North Carolina standout began his pro career at High-A Greenville and wasted little time showing why Boston was so high on him, with impressive offensive numbers and great defense at shortstop through his first 18 games.
“He’s tough as nails,” UNC head baseball coach Scott Forbes said of Schaffner in a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston. “He’s not scared of anything. I think he can hit anybody’s fastball, and it’s a fastball world now with the velocity. … I think he can hit 100 (mph), I think he can hit 105. You have to make pitches to get him out.
“But he’s competitive, he’s tough, he can play through nicks and bruises. He’s a competitor. So the makeup is what the (draft experts) don’t really understand, in my opinion. They don’t know the true makeup, the intangibles. I think that is one of the biggest factors when it comes down to being a major leaguer and staying in the big leagues.”
7. Sadbiel Delzine, RHP
2026 stats: 4-2, 2.82 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 24 BB, 73 SO (11 appearances for FCL Red Sox, six starts at Low-A Salem)
MLB ETA: 2029
At only 18 years old, Delzine is now the second-highest-ranked pitching prospect in Boston’s system. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder dominated in rookie ball and has looked sharp through six starts at Low-A Salem, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 30 strikeouts and only six walks. He K’d seven batters in three innings of work in his most recent start.
8. Owen Hull, CF
2026 stats: .338/.447/.532, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 15 BB, 13 SO (19 games at High-A Greenville)
MLB ETA: 2029
The Red Sox double-dipped on UNC talent with their first two picks of this year’s draft, Schaffner and Hull. The latter has far more power potential, and that has been on display through his first 19 games at High-A.
“He’s just gonna have to trust himself more on getting the ball in the air pull side, because he’s got such good bat-to-ball,” Forbes told NBC Sports Boston of Hull. “Not being afraid to swing and miss occasionally on a ball that he can launch pull side. But he’s got power. The power in the games he doesn’t put on paper, but if you want that kid to launch the ball at our stadium or at Fenway, he can do it.
“In a game, he’s more of a gap-to-gap guy. But when he hit the home runs that he hit this year, they were bombs. … He reminds me a lot of like a Kyle Seager, who we had here. Didn’t hit a ton of home runs, more doubles. But as he got older, he learned to drive the ball more to the pull side without pulling off the ball at the same time and still keeping his average up pretty good.”
Hull’s offensive upside is undeniable. The real question is whether he’ll be able to stick in center field in the pros.
9. John Holobetz, RHP
2026 stats: 6-7, 4.60 ERA, 1.293 WHIP, 30 BB, 113 SO (17 appearances at Double-A Portland, six starts at Triple-A Worcester)
MLB ETA: 2027
The Red Sox acquired Holobetz as part of the 2025 trade that shipped Quinn Priester to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Holobetz, 24, has struggled since being called up to Triple-A Worcester. In six starts for the WooSox, the righty has amassed a 5.47 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
Those numbers won’t impress anyone, but Holobetz has legitimate swing-and-miss stuff when he’s on his game. His secondary stuff has to improve, however, if he hopes to carve out a successful MLB career.
10. Blake Wehunt, RHP
2026 stats: 7-5, 3.46 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, 30 BB, 91 SO (13 starts at Double-A Portland, seven starts at Triple-A Worcester)
MLB ETA: 2027
Wehunt was promoted to Triple-A on July 22. The 6-foot-7 righty, nicknamed “The Chicken Farmer” for obvious reasons, has a 3.34 ERA through his first seven starts for Worcester.
With a high-90s fastball and an above-average sweeper, Wehunt projects as a future depth starter or long reliever. He has made significant strides this season after struggling last year in Double-A.
