SF Giants Prospects Rankings: 10 Who Just Missed The List

SF Giants Next 10 Prospect Rankings
39. Rayner Santana

Age: 18
Highest Level: DSL
Acquired: IFA (2018)
Future-Value Grade: 35

Rayner Santana was a part of the Giants incredibally strong 2018 international free-agent class. A strong arm with some power potential behind the plate, he seemed like an intriguing gamble to scouts. The early returns last year in the Dominican Summer League though were far better than expected.

Still 16 for a good chunk of the season, Santana posted a .294/.439/.553 triple-slash line with 10 home runs in 48 games. His strikeout rate was a bit high given the level of competition. At the same time, at his age, a 27.1% strikeout-rate is by no means an inexcusable number.

After some swing adjustments, Santana appears to have legitimate plus power to all fields. His arm remains his best defensive tool, although his blocking and game-calling are underdeveloped. Still, with time, he could soon add another top catching prospect into a Giants’ system that is already stacked at the position.

For young players like Santana, the lost minor-league season is obviously a difficult step in their development. However, given his youth, he’ll still be just 18-years old when he makes his stateside debut assuming an injury or the pandemic do not complicate the 2021 minor-league season.

It’s undoubtedly a small-sample, but an impressive one nonetheless. One statistical model already ranked Santana the 62nd best hitting prospect in baseball by his performance. Obviously, it’s far too early to project that, but his performance deserves to garner some attention.