TRACK RECORD: Santana was part of the Giants' heralded 2018 international class that also included Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. He made his pro debut with a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and got back on the field in 2020 during instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Santana's performance is going to be strongly driven by his bat, and he looks like he's going to have a power-over-hit profile. There are some swing-and-miss issues to his game, which the Giants have worked to correct. He's going to have to work to stay behind the plate as well. He's already a big-bodied player, and if he gets much bigger he'll likely have to move to first base. The move could be a bit of a blessing, though, if a less demanding defensive position allows him to focus more on his offense and unlocking his power. Santana is a catcher for now and has the hands and arm strength to stay there, but he's going to need to focus on remaining as mobile as possible.
THE FUTURE: Santana will be 18 years old for most of the 2021 season. He'll begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
TRACK RECORD: Santana was signed out of Venezuela as part of a strong 2018 class. His appeal stemmed from his raw power and strong throwing arm behind the plate. He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and finished the season with a .992 OPS. The figure ranked fifth overall in the league but second behind Luis Matos among Giants prospects.
SCOUTING REPORT: When the Giants saw Santana during the team's Dominican instructional league, their evaluators were concerned that his swing appeared stiff and rigid. Santana showed off a much more fluid swing in his official pro debut, and the results were loud. He boasts plus or better raw power, which shows up to all fields in batting practice and to the pull side and center field in games. Three of his 10 homers went to dead-center field. Santana's power was also boosted by a weight loss of 22 pounds and the addition of roughly 3 percent more muscle mass. There's still more work to be done in that department, but his first steps were strong. The changes to his body composition will also help behind the plate, where he has a strong, accurate arm but could improve his blocking and receiving through increased mobility.
THE FUTURE: Santana will make his stateside debut in 2020, likely in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
Scouting Reports
TRACK RECORD: Santana was part of the Giants' heralded 2018 international class that also included Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. He made his pro debut with a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and got back on the field in 2020 during instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Santana's performance is going to be strongly driven by his bat, and he looks like he's going to have a power-over-hit profile. There are some swing-and-miss issues to his game, which the Giants have worked to correct. He's going to have to work to stay behind the plate as well. He's already a big-bodied player, and if he gets much bigger he'll likely have to move to first base. The move could be a bit of a blessing, though, if a less demanding defensive position allows him to focus more on his offense and unlocking his power. Santana is a catcher for now and has the hands and arm strength to stay there, but he's going to need to focus on remaining as mobile as possible.
THE FUTURE: Santana will be 18 years old for most of the 2021 season. He'll begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
TRACK RECORD: Santana was part of the Giants' heralded 2018 international class that also included Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. He made his pro debut with a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and got back on the field in 2020 during instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Santana's performance is going to be strongly driven by his bat, and he looks like he's going to have a power-over-hit profile. There are some swing-and-miss issues to his game, which the Giants have worked to correct. He's going to have to work to stay behind the plate as well. He's already a big-bodied player, and if he gets much bigger he'll likely have to move to first base. The move could be a bit of a blessing, though, if a less demanding defensive position allows him to focus more on his offense and unlocking his power. Santana is a catcher for now and has the hands and arm strength to stay there, but he's going to need to focus on remaining as mobile as possible.
THE FUTURE: Santana will be 18 years old for most of the 2021 season. He'll begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
TRACK RECORD: Santana was part of the Giants' heralded 2018 international class that also included Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. He made his pro debut with a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and got back on the field in 2020 during instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Santana's performance is going to be strongly driven by his bat, and he looks like he's going to have a power-over-hit profile. There are some swing-and-miss issues to his game, which the Giants have worked to correct. He's going to have to work to stay behind the plate as well. He's already a big-bodied player, and if he gets much bigger he'll likely have to move to first base. The move could be a bit of a blessing, though, if a less demanding defensive position allows him to focus more on his offense and unlocking his power. Santana is a catcher for now and has the hands and arm strength to stay there, but he's going to need to focus on remaining as mobile as possible.
THE FUTURE: Santana will be 18 years old for most of the 2021 season. He'll begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
TRACK RECORD: Santana was signed out of Venezuela as part of a strong 2018 class. His appeal stemmed from his raw power and strong throwing arm behind the plate. He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and finished the season with a .992 OPS. The figure ranked fifth overall in the league but second behind Luis Matos among Giants prospects.
SCOUTING REPORT: When the Giants saw Santana during the team’s Dominican instructional league, their evaluators were concerned that his swing appeared stiff and rigid. Santana showed off a much more fluid swing in his official pro debut, and the results were loud. He boasts plus or better raw power, which shows up to all fields in batting practice and to the pull side and center field in games. Three of his 10 homers went to dead-center field. Santana’s power was also boosted by a weight loss of 22 pounds and the addition of roughly 3 percent more muscle mass. There’s still more work to be done in that department, but his first steps were strong. The changes to his body composition will also help behind the plate, where he has a strong, accurate arm but could improve his blocking and receiving through increased mobility.
THE FUTURE: Santana will make his stateside debut in 2020, likely in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
TRACK RECORD: Santana was signed out of Venezuela as part of a strong 2018 class. His appeal stemmed from his raw power and strong throwing arm behind the plate. He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and finished the season with a .992 OPS. The figure ranked fifth overall in the league but second behind Luis Matos among Giants prospects.
SCOUTING REPORT: When the Giants saw Santana during the team's Dominican instructional league, their evaluators were concerned that his swing appeared stiff and rigid. Santana showed off a much more fluid swing in his official pro debut, and the results were loud. He boasts plus or better raw power, which shows up to all fields in batting practice and to the pull side and center field in games. Three of his 10 homers went to dead-center field. Santana's power was also boosted by a weight loss of 22 pounds and the addition of roughly 3 percent more muscle mass. There's still more work to be done in that department, but his first steps were strong. The changes to his body composition will also help behind the plate, where he has a strong, accurate arm but could improve his blocking and receiving through increased mobility.
THE FUTURE: Santana will make his stateside debut in 2020, likely in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
Career Transactions
ACL Giants Black released C Rayner Santana.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Black from ACL Giants Orange.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Black from ACL Giants Orange.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Orange from ACL Giants Black.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Orange from ACL Giants Black.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Black from ACL Giants Orange.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Black from ACL Giants Orange.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Orange from San Jose Giants.
C Rayner Santana assigned to ACL Giants Orange from San Jose Giants.
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