RADIO
Gabriel Arias 2022 Outlook: Potential For Breakout In 2022
3 years agoArias hasn't been getting a lot of attention but he's in a good position to be a key rookie contributor this season. The 22-year-old infielder isn't a finished product but he's developing quickly and has performed very well when considering his age relative to the competition. Prior to the pandemic, Arias was challenged with an assignment to High-A ball as a 19-year-old and he produced a 120 wRC+. His raw power also start to show up more consistently and he slugged 17 home runs. After the lost 2020 season, Arias was then skipped over Double-A and spent the 2021 season at Triple-A where he held his own as a 21-year-old and produced a 115 wRC+ with 13 homers. Fewer balls cleared the fence compared to 2019 but Arias actually produced more extra-base hits. Over the past three seasons, he's seen his power numbers increase and his strikeout rates decrease — both very promising trends. The biggest knock on Arias is his overly-aggressive approach but that could improve once the frenetic promotions slow down and he has a chance to catch his breath.
