It is determination time. Golf equipment have till 6 p.m. ET Tuesday so as to add gamers to their 40-man rosters and shield them from the Rule 5 Draft, which can happen Dec. 11 on the Winter Conferences in Dallas. We have listed each group’s ranked prospects who’re Rule 5-eligible right here.
There are 4 Prime 100 prospects who require safety — Cubs outfielder Owen Caissie, White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery, Cardinals right-hander Tink Therefore and Rockies outfielder Zac Veen — and so they’ll all be part of 40-man rosters earlier than the deadline. However many different calls will not be almost as straightforward.
We have now recognized a participant on the 40-man bubble for each group. Typically we selected a ranked prospect, although in some cases, we opted for gamers who carried out within the Arizona Fall League, which wrapped up its season on Saturday.
Blue Jays: Adrian Pinto, 2B/OFAcquired from the Rockies as a part of the Randal Grichuk commerce in March 2022, Pinto has performed in simply 102 video games the previous three years due to accidents and has but to succeed in Double-A. However he confirmed a few of the greatest bat-to-ball abilities within the Fall League, sports activities a profession .296/.419/.444 line as a professional and in addition gives strong pace and a few defensive versatility.
Orioles: Brandon Younger, RHP (No. 19)As an undrafted free agent within the COVID-shortened 2020 Draft, Younger might have been taken in final yr’s Rule 5 Draft, however an elbow problem that required surgical procedure restricted him to a few begins in 2022 and he didn’t return till July 2023. He spent most of this previous yr at Triple-A and completed with strong general numbers (3.57 ERA, .243 BAA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.7 Ok/9 over 111 IP), so he’s knocking on the door. However he’s 26 for a lot of the 2025 season with a restricted ceiling as a back-end starter.
Rays: Alexander Alberto, RHPSigned for $70,000 out of the Dominican Republic in November 2019, Alberto did not arrive in full-season ball till this June, 55 months later. Whereas he is inexperienced and battles the strike zone, he is additionally 6-foot-8 and has an influence arsenal that features a mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider and upper-90s cutter.
Pink Sox: Allan Castro, OF (No. 19)A switch-hitter greatest suited to an outfield nook, Castro has the prospect for common instruments throughout the board however would not stand out in any facet. Signed for $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, he slashed .229/.343/.400 with 15 homers and 17 steals in 123 video games between Excessive-A and Double-A.
Yankees: Zach Messinger, RHP (No. 17)Messinger misses a number of bats with a mid-80s sweeper and creates angle and extension together with his 6-foot-6 body, although his fastball sits at a pedestrian 92-94 mph, and he is beginning to look extra like a future reliever than starter. A Thirteenth-rounder in 2021 out of Virginia, he led the Double-A Japanese League in average-against (.207) and WHIP (1.11) whereas rating second in ERA (3.06) and putting out 136 in 150 innings.
Guardians: Allan Hernandez, RHPHernandez has gone from Twelfth-round decide as a Miami excessive schooler in 2019 to one of many tougher throwers within the system, parking at 96 mph and peaking at 99 together with his fastball whereas additionally dealing mid-80s sliders. Strictly a reliever, he posted a 2.79 ERA, .182 average-against and 51 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings at Excessive-A earlier than performing nicely within the Fall League.
Royals: Chandler Champlain, RHP (No. 16)A part of the Andrew Benintendi commerce with the Yankees in 2022, Champlain hit the wall after he superior to Triple-A this Might, logging a 5.61 ERA with 46 walks vs. 72 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings. He has good really feel for spinning the ball, producing pure chopping motion on his 92-95 mph fastball and fashioning each a mid-80s slider and upper-70s curve.
Tigers: Roberto Campos, OF (No. 25)Campos defected from Cuba at age 13 in 2016 and signed three years later for $2.85 million based mostly largely on his energy potential, although he has homered simply 28 instances in 357 professional video games to this point. He repeated Excessive-A this season and batted .272/.342/.425 with 10 homers and 11 steals in 118 contests.
Twins: Kala’i Rosario, OF (No. 19)A fifth-rounder out of the Hawaii highschool ranks in 2020, Rosario seemed like he was beginning to determine some issues out, profitable Excessive-A Midwest League MVP honors in 2023 and exhibiting his energy would play within the Arizona Fall League. However an elbow harm triggered him to overlook two months of the 2024 season, and he wasn’t almost as productive with the transfer to Double-A. His current strong return to the Fall League may assist his trigger.
White Sox: Wilfred Veras, OF (No. 25)Veras has intensive huge league bloodlines with father Wilson, uncle Fernando Tatis Sr. and cousin Fernando Tatis Jr. all reaching the Majors. He options a few of the greatest uncooked energy in Chicago’s system however mitigates it with a particularly aggressive strategy, slashing .267/.319/.424 with 16 homers and 25 steals in 128 Double-A video games.
Angels: Jack Dashwood, LHPHealth has been a difficulty for the 6-foot-6 lefty drafted in 2019 as he’s thrown simply 40 innings over the previous two seasons mixed (10 in 2024). He has a low-90s fastball and an honest mid-80s slider that he used to submit a 17/2 Ok/BB ratio over 10 AFL innings this fall. He’s 27, however may very well be a possible Rule 5 goal as a helpful lefty reliever.
Astros: Alex Santos, RHPOne of the perfect highschool arms to come back out of New York Metropolis within the final decade, Santos was the Astros’ high decide (supplemental second spherical) in 2020, however his profession hasn’t gone as hoped. His stuff and management backed up and he missed most of 2024 with elbow issues, although he did rebound to guide the Fall League in strikeouts (26 in 17 2/3 innings) whereas displaying a mid-90s fastball, upper-80s cutter and low-80s slider.
A’s: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP (No. 12)A 2021 first-round decide of the Blue Jays, Hoglund got here to the A’s through the Matt Chapman commerce in 2022 whereas he was recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. This season was his first full, wholesome one and he pitched nicely at Double-A, although he wasn’t fairly as efficient with a transfer to Triple-A for 5 begins. His velocity hasn’t come all the way in which again (averaged round 92 mph together with his fastball in 2024) and his ceiling is proscribed, however he does throw strikes and has the prospect to begin.
Mariners: Jason Ruffcorn, RHPOriginally an eighth-round decide of the Phillies in 2021 out of Oklahoma, Ruffcorn joined the Mariners in a commerce for money concerns in March. Scott Ruffcorn’s child reached the higher ranges of the Minors for the primary time this yr, utilizing his four-seam fastball, cutter and sweeper to complete the season with a 3.44 ERA, 10.0 Ok/9 price and .225 BAA. The 26-year-old missed a superb quantity of bats (13.8 Ok/9) in 13 2/3 innings of Fall League work.
Rangers: Aidan Curry, RHP (No. 19)Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of a New York highschool in 2020, Curry gained Single-A Carolina League pitcher of the yr honors in 2023 earlier than slumping to a 6.44 ERA at Excessive-A this season. It was extra a matter of shedding command and deception, as a result of he nonetheless retained his mid-90s fastball with carry and a low-80s slider with depth.
Braves: Luis De Avila, LHP (No. 15)The Braves first obtained De Avila within the Rule 5 Draft — the Minor League part — in December 2021. On the decrease ranges of Atlanta’s system, he missed bats and obtained a number of ground-ball outs in 2022 and 2023. He was efficient at Double-A in 2024, with a 3.74 ERA that might have positioned him fifth in that class within the Southern League had he thrown sufficient innings, to associate with a 1.68 GO/AO. He missed so much fewer bats (79 Ok’s in 101 IP), however he’s a lefty with a monitor file.
Marlins: Dax Fulton, LHP (No. 26)Fulton signed for $2.4 million as a second-rounder in 2020, and the Oklahoma prep product grew to become among the best left-handed pitching prospects by pairing a 93-97 mph four-seamer with a plus curveball and slider. However he has had two Tommy John surgical procedures in 4 years and missed all of this season following his second elbow reconstruction in June 2023, so his future is unsure.
Mets: Dom Hamel, RHP (No. 15)A 2021 third-rounder from Dallas Baptist, Hamel has spectacular metrics together with his 92-95 mph four-seamer and high-spin slider within the low 80s. After thriving at decrease ranges he struggled at Triple-A, recording a 6.79 ERA with 124 strikeouts but in addition 77 walks in 124 2/3 innings.
Nationals: Kevin Made, SS (No. 25)In July 2019, Made signed with the Cubs for $1.5 million and was moved to full-season ball in 2021. He was despatched to the Nationals on the 2022 Commerce Deadline within the Jeimer Candelario deal, and he was left unprotected final yr and wasn’t taken within the Rule 5. That’s as a result of questions stay about his influence on the plate, even when he has the potential to be a plus defender at shortstop.
Phillies: Christian McGowan, RHP (No. 22)A junior school product taken in Spherical 7 of the 2021 Draft, McGowan had Tommy John surgical procedure shortly after the beginning of his first full season after which a again problem compelled him out for almost two months this yr, so he’s thrown simply 78 1/3 innings since signing with the Phillies. He had uneven ends in the Fall League this yr however confirmed off strong stuff with a fastball that averaged within the 94-95 mph vary and an honest mid-80s slider and upper-80s changeup.
Brewers: Coleman Crow, RHP (No. 30)Earlier than his Arizona stint this fall, Crow final pitched in a sport in April 2023, when he was with the Angels. He went to the Mets in June of that yr, had Tommy John surgical procedure later that summer season, then was dealt to the Brewers. He has fringy stuff exterior of his curve, which might be plus, and he’ll be simply 24 for the entire 2025 season, with a historical past of strike-throwing albeit with out a ton of monitor file.
Cardinals: Darlin Saladin, RHP (No. 21)Saladin signed for $200,000 in 2019, so he might have been chosen a yr in the past however had simply two innings of full-season pitching on his résumé. He had a terrific 2024 marketing campaign, ending with a 2.71 ERA and a 9.8 Ok/9 price due to a plus four-seamer he throws with a flat vertical strategy angle. However he’s but to pitch above A-ball, so the Playing cards could roll the cube once more and hope he isn’t taken within the Rule 5 or doesn’t have the stuff to stay if he’s.
Cubs: Ben Cowles, INF (No. 29)The Cubs admire Cowles and bought him in a July commerce that despatched Mark Leiter Jr. to the Yankees, however in addition they have an abundance of huge league-ready place gamers. He lacks a standout instrument however is in any other case near common throughout the board, and his instruments play up due to his instincts, resulting in a .286/.372/.457 line with 9 homers and 14 steals in 92 Double-A video games.
Pirates: Sammy Siani, OFA swing change in 2024 when Siani flattened his bat path led to large outcomes with Excessive-A Greensboro and enabled him to succeed in Double-A for the primary time. He went on to hit .375/.457/.550 within the Fall League exhibiting his new strategy simply may work. Siani runs nicely and might play all three outfield positions, so Michael’s youthful brother might have a backup outfielder profile that may be of curiosity within the Rule 5.
Reds: Jose Acuna, RHPThe Reds obtained Acuna, together with Hector Rodriguez, within the Tyler Naquin/Phillip Diehl deal on the 2022 Commerce Deadline. He’s made a number of progress since coming to the group, although he missed a bunch of time with a flexor pressure this yr. He obtained extra work within the Fall League, and whereas he struggled together with his command, he missed bats (11.1 Ok/9) and held hitters to a .170 BAA.
D-backs: Kristian Robinson, OFRobinson was as soon as an elite-level prospect on our Prime 100, and he was on the 40-man roster beforehand. He missed almost 4 years as a result of a mixture of psychological well being, authorized and visa points, however he got here again in 2023, performed final yr at Double-A and confirmed off a few of his instruments within the Fall League, which might result in a return to the D-backs’ roster.
Dodgers: Jerming Rosario, RHPSigned for the Tenth-highest ($650,000) of any pitcher within the 2018 worldwide class, the Dominican-born Rosario works with a 92-97 mph fastball and a low-80s slider. He posted a 4.47 ERA, .199 average-against and 120 strikeouts in 108 2/3 innings whereas rising from Excessive-A to Triple-A, then fanned 24 in 16 Fall League frames.
Giants: Aeverson Arteaga, SS (No. 11)Whereas Arteaga is a plus defender at shortstop with arm power to match, he has but to succeed in Double-A and performed simply 24 video games this yr whereas recovering from surgical procedure to appropriate thoracic outlet syndrome. Signed for $1 million out of Venezuela in 2019, he additionally has some sneaky pop that would translate into 15 or extra homers per season.
Padres: Jagger Haynes, LHP (No. 20)The Padres rolled the cube on drafting Haynes as a uncooked prep lefty within the closing spherical of the shortened 2020 Draft, and he’s proven glimpses of promise with out a lot manufacturing. He had Tommy John surgical procedure and didn’t make his official professional debut till 2023, solely throwing 25 1/3 innings that yr. He was wholesome in 2024 with blended outcomes at Excessive-A, which in all probability means he’s too far-off for actual Rule 5 consideration, however his fastball-curve mixture from the left aspect is intriguing.
Rockies: Yujanyer Herrera, RHP (No. 29)Signed by the Brewers for simply $10,000 in 2019, he headed to the Rockies as a part of the Nick Mears commerce in 2024, ending with over 100 IP for the primary time with strong all-around numbers (3.04 ERA, .231 BAA, 1.18 WHIP), largely at Excessive-A. There’s a strong three-pitch combine right here and he might have the prospect to begin, however he’s solely 21 and hasn’t gotten out of A-ball but, so the Rockies could resolve to threat leaving him uncovered.
