Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 40 | Overall: 40

One of the Orioles' most intriguing pickups of the 2021-22 international signing period, Arias signed for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic after working with Sandy Nin, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program. He had a decent debut and boosted his profile significantly in 2023 in the Florida Complex League, where he grew into more power and looked like one of the circuit’s better all-around players, though he struggled to find similar results with a move to full-season Delmarva in 2024.

A switch-hitting infielder, Arias controls the strike zone well and demonstrates good bat-to-ball skills while flashing raw power that could be a plus tool in the future. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s able to generate pop thanks to an excellent approach from both sides of the plate. Arias also displays on-base acumen advanced for a player his age. He’s an aggressive hitter who swings at strikes, and while that could continue to work for him, he will need to fine-tune his swing decisions at the higher levels to avoid being exploited against better pitching. There is still plenty of room for his wiry frame to fill out, and he’s athletic enough to maintain his speed as he adds strength. He’s an average runner whose good instincts enable his speed to play up and he knows how to steal a base. 

Arias’ defense has been a work in progress since he signed as a shortstop, and he saw almost equal time at short, second base and third in 2023. His above-average arm strength fits well at other spots and he still has the chance to grow into a bat-first infielder.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Another product of the Orioles’ growing presence in Latin America, Arias signed for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic to profile as one of the club’s more intriguing players of its 2022 class. A switch-hitting shortstop with power potential, Arias trained with Sandy Nin, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, prior to signing. He then showed on-base acumen and good wheels during a decent debut in the Dominican Summer League.

Arias’ ceiling is tied up in his hitting ability. He demonstrates an advanced approach and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, while flashing power that projects as a plus tool in the future. At 6-foot-1, 155 pounds, he’s tall and wiry, with plenty of room to fill out as his body matures. Adding strength should also allow him to drive the ball more consistently from both sides of the plate, and he’s athletic enough to remain a good runner with additional weight.

Arias showed more base-stealing acumen than expected during his debut, going 10-for-13 in stolen base attempts across 46 DSL games. His defense is still a work-in-progress, with actions that need to be fine-tuned but enough arm strength to stay at shortstop at least in the short-term. Even if the Orioles’ shortstop depth forces a move to second or third, Arias could develop into a switch-hitting middle-of-the-field player with a varied skillset in the Erick Aybar or Elvis Andrus mold.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

The Orioles have spent years improving their scouting presence in Latin America under executive vice president general manager Mike Elias and international scouting director Koby Perez, resulting in the franchise’s deepest class of international signings in 2021. One of the more intriguing players in that class was Arias, a switch-hitting shortstop with power potential, who signed for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic. Arias trained with Sandy Nin, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, prior to signing.

Arias’ signature tool is his hitting ability. He demonstrates an advanced approach and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, while flashing power that projects as a plus tool in the future. He’s tall but lanky, with plenty of room to fill out as his body matures and enough athleticism to remain a solid runner with additional weight. Added strength should also allow him to drive the ball more consistently both right-handed and left-handed.

Arias is still fine-tuning his actions on defense, but is expected to have enough arm strength to stay at shortstop as he progresses through Baltimore’s system. His baserunning is also expected to improve once in pro ball. With time, he could develop into a switch-hitting middle-of-the-field player who can do a little bit of everything at the highest level.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Arias is a switch-hitting shortstop with power potential from both sides and one of the most intriguing prospects on the market. He has good bat-to-ball skills and has been praised for his overall hitting ability, including his advanced approach at the plate. He also has an emerging run tool that projects to be solid-to-average. 

There is room for him to fill out strength as his body develops. Like all prospects, Arias will improve in all areas of the game once he signs and enters a team’s academy. He’s still fine-tuning his actions on defense, but he is expected to have enough arm and skills to keep him at shortstop as he makes his way through the Minors. 

Arias trains with Sandy Nin, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic. The Orioles are the favorite to sign him.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/13/2024	SS Leandro Arias assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
	05/21/2024	Delmarva Shorebirds activated SS Leandro Arias from the 7-day injured list.
	05/10/2024	Delmarva Shorebirds sent SS Leandro Arias on a rehab assignment to FCL Orioles.
	05/10/2024	Delmarva Shorebirds sent SS Leandro Arias on a rehab assignment to FCL Orioles.
	04/14/2024	Delmarva Shorebirds placed SS Leandro Arias on the 7-day injured list.
	04/04/2024	SS Leandro Arias assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	03/07/2024	Baltimore Orioles Prospects activated SS Leandro Arias.
	02/26/2024	SS Leandro Arias assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	06/05/2023	FCL Orioles activated SS Leandro Arias.
	06/05/2023	SS Leandro Arias assigned to FCL Orioles.
	04/27/2023	Orioles Organization activated SS Leandro Arias. Ext Spring Game.
	06/03/2022	SS Leandro Arias assigned to DSL BAL Orange from DSL BAL Black.
	03/22/2022	SS Leandro Arias assigned to DSL Orioles1.
	01/15/2022	Baltimore Orioles signed free agent SS Leandro Arias to a minor league contract.