Nick
Arias

5-foot-11 165-pounds, looked noticeably stronger than last time we saw him with lean strength & definition throughout his frame. Hits from an athletic slightly spread out base. Uses a leg lift gathering weight into his back hip. Stays in control of his load, letting his body work into footstrike. Rhythm in his hands getting to a solid launch position. Gap to gap approach with flat path through the zone. Extension to swing, reaching at times. Above average pull contact at 88mph exit velocity. Hits some hard LD’s to pull side in our games for hits. Looked the part at shortstop. Showcased a strong arm across the diamond at 88mph with sure hands. Plays more athletically than 7.47 60-yard dash time would suggest. Should be followed closely.

The athletic 5-foot-11 155 pounder closed the game out with a nice 3 pitch mix.  The FB was 80-83 and he showed the ability to command it down to his gloveside.  More impressive was the confidence he showed in his secondary pitches, throwing both his 72-74 CH and 69-70 CB in any count.  The delivery is easy, and once he gains strength he projects to be a highly regarded recruit.  He also flew out to the track the opposite way and showed the ability to defend SS capably earlier in the game.

Large athletic SS at 5’11” 155lbs with body & athleticism to easily build strength on, arm strength shows to be a good tool for him in the future with effortless 85mph arm with carry across diamond, easy controlled movements in the INF funneling before throws, hits from a medium athletic setup with rhythm in a rock back trigger, consistently barreled up baseball gap to gap using opposite field especially well, 87 mph exit velocity, shows a lot of confidence in the way he plays the game, should be a high level prospect going forward.

1/27/19 – 5’10 155-pound frame with high waist. Arias makes everything he does look easy and is a legitimate two-way prospect. Arm action being the most effortless. Fastball worked 83-85 down in the zone. What impressed the most was feel for his breaking ball at 68-70 MPH. He was able to throw it for a strike but not just a get me over, it buckled numerous hitters. Good job working over the rubber for as long as he could to get lower half to be efficient and sequence properly.  

Slightly open stance with a leg kick working back into his back side. Showed good rhythm and feel for timing with his leg kick. Good mobility allows for his lower half to get rotated through, helping him stay in the zone as long as he can. Hands get into good spot with knob point down to catcher, getting bat speed back behind the zone. Exit velo was 83 MPH. No wasted movement in infield, keeping ball middle to left. Uses glove tap for rhythm during his approach to the baseball. Funnels to belt after catching the baseball. Ability to throw from multiple arm slots with velocity. Arm strength was 83MPH across the infield. 

10/14/18 - 5-foot-10, 145-pound frame. Arias looks like one of the top prospects in AZ's 2022 class. With a projectable, high-waisted body, Arias looks the part as an infielder and also on the mound. Offensively Arias shows an advanced rhythm, getting started early with a balanced, knee-knock trigger and projects to develop power as he matures physically. Defensively, has the look of a future 3B, generating impressive carry on his throws across the diamond. Foot speed has improved since we last saw him and appears to be the type that will continue to get faster as he gets stronger. Arias is even more advanced on the mound, where he sat 80-81 mph with an under control delivery and very clean arm circle from a 3/4 slot. Arias flashed a true curveball with tight rotation and 11-5 break when at it's best. He also mixed is a very short slider, with more cutter-type break. May benefit from being shelved in favor of a changeup that will give him a weapon against LHH as he matures. Future position will depend on continued development of run tool (7.57), which has come down significantly since we saw him in the spring. 

3/29/18 - Well-proportioned, but still thin 5-foot-9, 140-pound frame. Appears taller than listed height. Most well-rounded player at the event. Very advanced young prospect two-way prospect who stands out on the mound and at the plate. Controlled, repeatable delivery with high ¾ arm slot. Lead hip can get out a little quick at times. Pounded zone with straight 77-99 mph fastball, touching 80. Also mixed in 60-63 mph curveball with tight rotation and varying shape that was best with more downward action. Offensively, hits from balanced, athletic setup, with leg lift trigger, creating a wide, solid base. Tips barrel forward to initiate swing, starting early and generating natural loft with on-plane swing; 77 mph exit velocity. Moves comfortably on the infield with softness in hands and short, loose arm action; 75 mph infield velo. Development of run tool (7.70 60-yard dash) will dictate whether Arias remains a two-way prospect or turns into a PO.