Today’s prospect is the first of two we’ll look at from the 2024 International Free Agent class

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at Junior Arias
<h2>Getting to know Junior Arias…</h2>
Position: Outfielder
Bats: Right
Born: October 6, 2006
Acquired: 2024 International Free Agency
2023 Team: N/A
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Arias goes by “Andres” on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects and by “Yunior” on Scott Mitchell’s Top 50 list, two lists we’ll look at heavily for a scouting report. 
The 17-year-old was born too late in 2006 to be in the 2023 class, so unfortunately he has yet to make his professional debut. However, when he does, there’s quite a bit of expectations on him <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/international/andres-arias-815914">as he ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 34th-best prospect from the 2024 IFA class</a>.
In his bio, they note that he has a big frame, standing at 6’4”, 180 lbs and is one of the most developed players available. There’s already big power potential and already hits the ball hard all over the field. It’s likely that Arias will be a corner outfield, probably on the right side, as his arm may become a strength of his down the road.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Jays are expected to sign Junior Arias today, who ranks 21st on Fangraphs&#39; 2023 IFA class ranking.
A scout told me: &quot;Big kid with quick bat speed but can get wild on BB, potential plus power with a solid arm. Probably a right fielder, similar to Franmil Reyes.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/2B5VY9qWPG">pic.twitter.com/2B5VY9qWPG</a>
&mdash; Brennan qualifying offer Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1614612238454734851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mitchell ranks Arias as his 49th-best Blue Jays prospect, noting that he “has a ton of upside” and essentially calling him Emmanuel Bonilla-lite. He also gave us an interesting tid-bit that Arias, who is 17 years old, has already had an exit velocity of 105 mph, meaning there is some power in that bat.
Hopefully, Arias has a strong debut in the Dominican Summer League as Bonilla and several others did from the 2022 class. The Jays are starved for high-end outfield prospects, but could become loaded at that position in the near future.
<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-the-honourable-mentions">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown: The honourable mentions</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-43-david-guzman">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 43: David Guzmán</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-42-devonte-brown">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 42: Devonte Brown</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-41-manuel-beltre">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 41: Manuel Beltre</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-40-yhoangel-aponte">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 40: Yhoangel Aponte</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-39-dasan-brown">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 39: Dasan Brown</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-38-peyton-williams">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 38: Peyton Williams</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-37-nick-goodwin">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 37: Nick Goodwin</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-36-hagen-danner">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 36: Hagen Danner</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-35-rainer-nunez">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 35: Rainer Nuñez</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-34-hayden-juenger">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 34: Hayden Juenger</a>
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
<hr />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png 727w, https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />

Today’s prospect is the first of two we’ll look at from the 2024 International Free Agent class



This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at Junior Arias
<h2>Getting to know Junior Arias…</h2>
Position: Outfielder

Bats: Right

Born: October 6, 2006

Acquired: 2024 International Free Agency

2023 Team: N/A

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Arias goes by “Andres” on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects and by “Yunior” on Scott Mitchell’s Top 50 list, two lists we’ll look at heavily for a scouting report. 

The 17-year-old was born too late in 2006 to be in the 2023 class, so unfortunately he has yet to make his professional debut. However, when he does, there’s quite a bit of expectations on him <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/international/andres-arias-815914">as he ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 34th-best prospect from the 2024 IFA class</a>.

In his bio, they note that he has a big frame, standing at 6’4”, 180 lbs and is one of the most developed players available. There’s already big power potential and already hits the ball hard all over the field. It’s likely that Arias will be a corner outfield, probably on the right side, as his arm may become a strength of his down the road.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1614612238454734851

Mitchell ranks Arias as his 49th-best Blue Jays prospect, noting that he “has a ton of upside” and essentially calling him Emmanuel Bonilla-lite. He also gave us an interesting tid-bit that Arias, who is 17 years old, has already had an exit velocity of 105 mph, meaning there is some power in that bat.

Hopefully, Arias has a strong debut in the Dominican Summer League as Bonilla and several others did from the 2022 class. The Jays are starved for high-end outfield prospects, but could become loaded at that position in the near future.
<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-the-honourable-mentions">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown: The honourable mentions</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-43-david-guzman">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 43: David Guzmán</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-42-devonte-brown">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 42: Devonte Brown</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-41-manuel-beltre">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 41: Manuel Beltre</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-40-yhoangel-aponte">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 40: Yhoangel Aponte</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-39-dasan-brown">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 39: Dasan Brown</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-38-peyton-williams">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 38: Peyton Williams</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-37-nick-goodwin">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 37: Nick Goodwin</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-36-hagen-danner">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 36: Hagen Danner</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-35-rainer-nunez">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 35: Rainer Nuñez</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-34-hayden-juenger">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 34: Hayden Juenger</a>

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 33: Junior Arias

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) collides with Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) after turning a double play at second base and at first base against first baseman Triston Casas (not pictured) to end the fifth inning at Rogers Centre.

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News