SF Giants prospects: Rayner Arias likely out for season with injury
A source tells Giants Baseball Insider that exciting SF Giants outfield prospect Rayner Arias (Giants Top 8 Prospect) is likely out for the season with a sprained wrist. Arias has not appeared in a game since June 30th, when he suffered the injury attempting to make a diving catch on a shallow fly ball to center field. Arias was down on the field for some time following the play and was eventually carted off. Prior to the injury, Arias had crushed Dominican Summer League pitching, posting a .414/.540/.793 triple-slash with 12 extra-base hits and more walks (15) than strikeouts (11) in 16 games.
Per the source, Arias traveled to Arizona shortly after suffering the injury, where he has been rehabbing at the organization's facility in Papago. The team is optimistic that Arias will fully return to action during instructs this offseason, which should put him in a position to hit the ground running in spring training.
Arias signed with the Giants for a $2.7 million signing bonus to headline the team's 2023 IFA signings. San Francisco has had a lot of success in recent years in international free agency. Closer Camilo Doval has been the first homegrown impact player to emerge in recent years, but many of the organization's top prospects (e.g., Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Jairo Pomares, Aeverson Arteaga, Onil Perez, and Adrian Sugastey) were acquired through the IFA process. Mariners ace Luis Castillo and Cubs top prospect outfielder Alexander Canario were too additional fantastic finds.
Giants farm director Kyle Haines lauded Arias' potential prior to the season, only raising expectations for the young outfielder. A scout with another National League team told Giants Baseball Insider last summer that they were high on Arias' offensive upside as well, projecting him to develop plus or even better power.
Given his youth, Rayner Arias will not turn 18 until next April, the SF Giants have every reason to be exceedingly cautious in his rehab. The fact that he was so dominant at the Dominican Summer League also makes it easy for the team to begin helping Arias prepare for 2024 when he will likely jump straight into full-season ball at Single-A San Jose.
