DALLAS — The Rule 5 Draft has been the unofficial closing act of the annual Winter Conferences. This yr’s version will happen on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET to shut issues out, and as all the time, there will likely be gamers who will get the possibility to make Opening Day rosters within the spring.
Any participant who turned professional at age 18 or youthful in 2020 or at age 19 or older in 2021 is eligible for choice within the Main League part of the Rule 5 Draft if he is not on a 40-man roster. Golf equipment who take a participant in that part should pay his former staff $100,000 and maintain him on their lively large league roster all through the next season. The participant cannot be despatched to the Minors with out first clearing waivers after which getting supplied again to his authentic group for half his Draft value.
Beneath is a listing of intriguing eligible gamers based mostly on these guidelines who might hear their names through the Main League part, listed alphabetically. As issues unfold in Dallas, it is going to be up to date as buzz across the foyer builds. A participant’s rating on his present staff’s Prime 30 is listed in parentheses when warranted.
Jose Acuna, RHP, Reds: A flexor pressure restricted him to only 39 innings through the common season, however he did make it again to pitch within the Arizona Fall League, putting out 11.1 per 9 innings there. He can run his fastball as much as 96 mph and it might play up in shorter aid outings, and he backs that up with a slider and a changeup.
Angel Bastardo, RHP, Crimson Sox: A 6-foot-1 right-hander who remains to be simply 22 years previous, Bastardo spent the yr with Double-A Portland, although he made simply 10 begins earlier than needing Tommy John surgical procedure. It’s not remarkable for a staff to take a man rehabbing from elbow surgical procedure after which wait a yr earlier than seeing if he can stick, with the possibility of Bastardo’s fastball (which he runs as much as 96 mph), a changeup that misses numerous bats and a slider, coming all the way in which again as soon as wholesome.
Cooper Bowman, 2B/OF, A’s (No. 20): In two full seasons since coming from the Yankees within the Frankie Montas deal in 2022, Bowman has hit a mixed 20 homers with 81 steals whereas reaching Triple-A. His velocity is an asset and he’s proven he can play second base and now heart area.
Logan Boyer, RHP, Dodgers: Boyer missed the entire 2022 and ’23 seasons with an elbow harm that resulted in Tommy John surgical procedure, however he returned to make 22 Double-A aid appearances in 2024, posting a 1.67 ERA, 11 Okay/9 fee and .192 BAA. He’ll be 27 for the 2025 season, however his fastball averaged 97.3 mph this previous yr and elicited a formidable 31 p.c miss fee in accordance with Synergy. His mid-80s slider missed the identical quantity of bats.
Carlos Duran, RHP, Dodgers: Duran was No. 16 on the Dodgers’ Prime 30 Prospects record in 2022, however he missed the entire ’23 season following Tommy John surgical procedure. He pitched his means as much as Triple-A in 2024, putting out 12.3 per 9. The 6-foot-7 right-hander leans closely on his 83-85 mph slider (42 p.c miss fee) whereas working his fastball as much as 94 mph.
Lazaro Estrada, RHP, Blue Jays: In his first yr of beginning full time, Estrada reached Double-A for the primary time and had success there. He has a profession 10.9 Okay/9 fee, putting out 9.5 per 9 within the Jap League. He ticked that as much as 14.7 Okay/9 within the AFL, with a very efficient slider (52 p.c miss fee). Groups will like his metrics.
Michael Flynn, RHP, Rays: Flynn began out with the Pirates, was launched in April 2021, signed by the Mariners in Might 2022, signed as a Minor League free agent with the Dodgers in December 2023, then was traded to the Rays for Amed Rosario at this previous yr’s Commerce Deadline. He spent practically all of 2024 in Triple-A and the now-28-year previous struck out 12.8 per 9 largely with a sinker-slider-cutter mixture.
Christian Franklin, OF, Cubs (No. 21): A terrific athlete who missed all of his first professional season following a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Franklin has plus uncooked energy (although he hits the ball on the bottom an excessive amount of), strong velocity when underway and loads of arm power. He hit .268/.398/.366 with 5 homers and 34 steals this yr and will present some versatility as a result of he performs all three outfield spots effectively.
Liam Hicks, C, Tigers: The Tigers simply acquired Hicks, together with righty Tyler Owens, from the Rangers at this previous yr’s Commerce Deadline, however opted to not shield him. Groups might go looking for large league backup choices within the Rule 5, and Hicks has very strong on-base abilities in addition.
Jack Little, RHP, Dodgers: A former Stanford product who was a fifth-rounder in 2019, Little missed the 2022 season following Tommy John surgical procedure. In 2024, he pitched throughout Double-A and Triple-A and struck out 9.9 per 9 whereas strolling simply 2.5. He can run his fastball as much as 97 mph, and each that and his mid-80s slider produced 30 p.c or higher miss charges this previous season.
Bryan Magdaleno, LHP, Rangers: Magdaleno went from Single-A to Double-A and completed with a 1.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 42 2/3 IP. He was one of many prime relievers within the Minors along with his .132 BAA, utilizing a mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider from a low, huge arm slot.
Garrett McDaniels, LHP, Dodgers: McDaniels started the yr at Single-A and ended it at Double-A, ending with a mixed 3.19 ERA, .229 BAA and 10.3 Okay/9 fee. He initially signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dodgers in August 2021 whereas rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure, making his professional debut with one outing late in 2022, then not pitching once more till July 2023.
Jovani Moran, LHP, Twins: Moran has 79 aid outings within the large leagues on his résumé, with a hefty 11.1 Okay/9 fee over components of three seasons. He was non-tendered after the 2023 season, signed again with the Twins as a Minor League free agent, then missed the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgical procedure. A staff might roll the cube and hope they’re getting the man who seemed like a strong lefty reliever earlier in his profession, with a fastball as much as 96 mph and a nasty 83-85 mph changeup.
Joel Peguero, RHP, Giants: Peguero had a good season pitching out of the Double-A Erie (Tigers) bullpen in 2024, ending with a 3.14 ERA and 9.8 Okay/9 fee, then he signed with the Giants as a Minor League free agent. His fastball touched triple digits through the yr with a low-90s slider, and studies of him routinely cranking it as much as 101 mph within the Dominican Winter League created some buzz.
Kala’i Rosario, OF, Twins (No. 19): Whereas he is perhaps somewhat bit extra of a more durable profile to stay within the large leagues at this level as a result of he’s a nook outfielder solely, the ability potential might intrigue groups. Wholesome in 2023, he was the Midwest League MVP and hit 21 homers. He additionally swung the bat effectively within the Arizona Fall League after getting back from an elbow harm.
Sammy Siani, OF, Pirates: There isn’t an enormous observe document of success right here, however a swing change vaulted him out of Excessive-A Greensboro to Double-A for the primary time. If a staff takes him, it is going to be based mostly on his Fall League exhibiting (.375/.457/.550) and since he runs effectively and might play all three outfield spots.
Shane Smith, RHP, Brewers: Smith each began and relieved in 2024, reaching Triple-A and ending with a mixed 3.05 ERA, .204 BAA and 10.8 Okay/9 fee. His fastball averaged over 93 mph in 2024 and he has each a slider and curve, together with a below-average changeup. The stuff does tick up a bit in shorter aid stints.
A.J. Vukovich, OF, D-backs: There is perhaps an excessive amount of swing-and-miss right here, however Vukovich has some observe document of run manufacturing, with 24 homers and 96 RBIs in Double-A in 2023, then hitting 17 homers again in Double-A and reaching Triple-A for the primary time whereas enjoying all three outfield spots in 2024.
Ryan Ward, OF, Dodgers: Ward spent his second yr in Triple-A in 2024 and slashed .258/.317/.543 with 33 homers (second within the Minors), whereas touchdown within the prime 5 in extra-base hits (66), complete bases (268) and RBIs (104). Energy is his carrying instrument and he’s used it to mash 110 homers in his previous 4 seasons. He might match the profile because the lefty half of a nook outfield platoon.
Ryan Webb, LHP, Guardians (No. 26): Webb led the Fall League in strikeouts in 2023 and had a nifty 2.80 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 141 1/3 innings on the higher ranges of Cleveland’s system final yr. It’s not a giant fastball, averaging 91 mph, however his slider, changeup and curve are all efficient.
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