Shortstop Franklin Arias named Portland Sea Dogs MVP
Franklin Arias Named Portland Sea Dogs’ 2026 Most Valuable Player
The Portland Sea Dogs announced their season‑ending awards on Sunday, naming shortstop Franklin Ari Arias the league’s most valuable player (MVP) for 2026. The awards ceremony took place as the team’s regular‑season finale against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies was rained out, preventing any final playoff chase.
Arias, the No. 1 prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, posted a standout year with the Sea Dogs before earning a promotion to Triple‑A Worcester on July 25. In 75 games for Portland, he compiled a .318 batting average, a .407 on‑base percentage and a .587 slugging percentage. The 19 home runs and 52 runs batted in he recorded ranked among the top offensive numbers in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division. For his defensive prowess, Ari Arias was also named the Sea Dogs’ defensive player of the year.
The Sea Dogs finished the season with a 71‑65 record, placing third in both halves of the Eastern League’s Northeast Division and falling short of playoff qualification. The cancellation of the final game, caused by inclement weather, left the team without a postseason berth.
In addition to Ari Arias’s honors, the Sea Dogs recognized several other standouts. Pitcher Blake Wehunt was named pitcher of the year after a 5‑4 record in 13 starts, a 3.52 earned run average, 72 strikeouts and 16 walks across 53 ⅔ innings. Wehunt earned a promotion to Triple‑A Worcester on July 21. Brooks Brannon was awarded the Charlie Eschbach Citizen of the Year for his community contributions.
The Sea Dogs’ season ended on a high note with Ari Arias’s MVP recognition, but the team’s hopes for a playoff run were dashed by a weather‑curtailed finale. The award winners were announced on the team’s official website, with the Sea Dogs thanking fans for their support throughout a competitive season.
Source: https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/04/red-sox-prospect-franklin-arias-is-far-from-home-in-portland-but-keeps-venezuela-close/
