MLB Pipeline highlights SF Giants outfield prospect as part of group poised for full-season debut

MLB Pipeline identified 18 prospects set to make their full-season debut in 2025. SF Giants outfield prospect Rayner Arias was included in that group due partly to his high baseball IQ and advanced approach at the plate.

MLB Pipeline highlights SF Giants outfield prospect as part of group poised for full-season debut

The Giants originally signed Arias out of the Dominican Republic two years ago. He agreed to a $2.7 million signing bonus, which remains the second-largest bonus handed out by the organization in international free agency. Lucius Fox holds the franchise record in international free agency after agreeing to a $6 million signing bonus in 2015 out of the Bahamas.

Arias is the son of former pro pitcher Pablo Arias, so he has been around baseball for much of his life. The elder Arias pitched for four seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization, posting a 4.29 ERA while reaching as high as Triple-A before hanging up his cleats following the 2002 season.

MLB Pipeline believes that the Giants outfield prospect has the intangibles to successfully transition into full-season ball but two questions remain:

"The Dominican native (Arias) has an advanced approach and high baseball IQ, thanks in part to his father playing in the upper Minors. The bigger questions as he makes his full-season debut are whether he can stay healthy and remain quick enough to stick in center field."

MLB Pipeline

Arias has missed time in his brief pro career due to wrist issues. He sustained a wrist injury in 2023 while attempting to make a play in the outfield. That injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Before the injury, he slashed .414/.540/.793 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 76 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League.

The 18-year-old outfielder was slowed by another wrist injury in 2024, delaying his debut in the Arizona Complex League (ACL). He posted a .735 OPS with no home runs and 16 RBI in 105 plate appearances with the ACL Giants when he did make it back to the field.

The Giants hope that Arias can stay healthy for the 2025 season. Reaching full-season ball will be a good challenge for the young outfielder as it would allow him to get more reps at a young age and face off against older competition. Of course, minor league assignments will not be determined anytime soon.