The Rule 5 Draft is usually a fascinating, if imperfect, course of, and also you solely want to have a look at final 12 months’s version to see why.
On one hand, the White Sox chosen Shane Smith from the Brewers and watched him blossom into an All-Star earlier than ending with a 3.81 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 146 1/3 innings. Left off the 40-man by Milwaukee, he earned his first Main League look in Chicago and made essentially the most of it, changing into simply the sort of participant the Rule 5 Draft was meant to profit.
Alternatively, Smith is certainly one of solely three of final 12 months’s 15 picks nonetheless together with his new group. Marlins catcher Liam Hicks (previously of the Tigers) was the one different participant to stay in The Present all season lengthy. (Proper-hander Angel Bastardo stays with the Blue Jays as a result of they stashed him on the injured checklist all season whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.) Left-handers Nate Lavender and Connor Thomas additionally made it by way of the summer season, however they’ve since moved on from the Rays and Brewers, respectively. Mike Vasil happy his Rule 5 necessities with the White Sox however solely after a wild experience: he was taken by the Phillies, traded to the Rays after which claimed off waivers by Chicago when he didn’t make Tampa Bay’s Opening Day roster.
On Dec. 10, golf equipment making a Rule 5 choice will accomplish that hoping they get the 2026 model of Smith, however they’re likelier to be getting somebody passing by way of for a quick spell.
Right here’s one candidate from every group to be taken on this 12 months’s Rule 5 Draft.
(Reminder: gamers are Rule 5-eligible if they don’t seem to be on the 40-man roster however had been signed at 19 or older and have been in professional ball for 4 seasons or extra or had been signed at 18 or youthful and have been in professional ball for 5 seasons or extra.)
Blue Jays: Yohendrick Pinango, OF (No. 7)Pinango produced a 169 wRC+ over 47 video games in Double-A New Hampshire to push himself to Triple-A in his age-23 season, solely to hit .235/.335/.379 with seven homers and a 96 wRC+ in 84 video games there. The information underneath the hood, nonetheless, is a lot better as he ran a 108.8 mph Ninetieth-percentile exit velocity, 115.4 mph max EV, 47.8 % hard-hit fee and 86 % in-zone contact fee whereas batting from the left facet. Beneath-average velocity and fringy arm energy would restrict him to left subject within the Majors.
Orioles: Alex Pham, RHP (unranked)Pham opened the 12 months within the Double-A rotation, missed about three months with proper forearm irritation, and moved to the bullpen within the again half of 2025. He has a deep pitch combine with a four-seamer (that includes cut-ride motion), curveball, slider, cutter and changeup from an over-the-top launch, and whereas he doesn’t flash big velocity, his expertise working in a number of roles might be helpful for his probabilities at sticking as a swingman.
Rays: Logan Workman, RHP (unranked)Workman has been one of many Minors’ finest workhorses with 4 straight seasons of 100-plus innings, together with 152 1/3 with Triple-A Durham in 2025 (second-most in MiLB). He posted a 4.02 ERA with 152 strikeouts in that span and walked solely 7.2 % of his batters confronted (Triple-A common was 10.9 %). His 92-94 mph fastball was a subpar providing, however his mid-80s slider and 82-85 mph changeup had been whiff mills. His ceiling is proscribed, however he might be value a glance as a sturdy and low-cost No. 5 choice for golf equipment in want of beginning assist.
Purple Sox: Hayden Mullins, LHP (No. 17)Mullins will get spectacular swing-and-miss on his 91-94 mph four-seamer (that performs up with good extension and life up within the zone) and low-80s, two-plane slider, serving to him fan 30.0 % of his batters confronted in 2025. He had a 13.8 % stroll fee in his 18 begins at Double-A and hasn’t but reached Triple-A but as a 25-year-old, and people two elements possible stored him off Boston’s 40-man. However he might be an attention-grabbing reliever out of the gate for a Rule 5 membership with an eye fixed on being part of beginning depth.
Yankees: Harrison Cohen, RHP (No. 30)As soon as undrafted out of George Washington, the 6-foot reliever has posted back-to-back seasons with sub-2 ERAs. On this most up-to-date marketing campaign, he completed with a 1.76 mark and 1.10 WHIP whereas placing out 59 in 51 innings between Triple-A and Double-A. He ran fairly even splits by counting on a decent mid-80s cutter in opposition to righties and mid-80s changeup with good armside fade in opposition to lefties, all whereas sporting a extra mundane 92-94 four-seamer from a low arm slot. The deception could be a difficulty for his management, but it surely additionally may make him a plug-and-play choice in an MLB bullpen.
Guardians: Wuilfredo Antunez, OF (unranked)Proper shoulder tendinitis put a crimp in Antunez’s Arizona Fall League stint again in October, which might have supplied him a chance to show his ability set for a wider viewers. As is, he posted a 139 wRC+ throughout Excessive-A and Double-A this previous season, rating because the lone member of the Guardians group outdoors of José Ramírez to publish 50+ extra-base hits and 15+ steals in 2025. Signed for simply $10,000 out of Venezuela in April 2019, the left-handed-hitting Antunez has made great strides since arriving stateside, however with simply 123 at-bats within the higher ranges of the Minors, a leap straight to the large leagues may include a large studying curve.
Royals: Javi Vaz, INF (No. 25)The Vanderbilt product already confronted questions on his energy heading into 2025, and fractured fingers in his proper hand (suffered in Spring Coaching) didn’t assist that trigger as he slugged simply .326 with three homers in 103 video games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas after his return. That mentioned, the lefty hitter walked greater than he struck out for a fourth straight professional season and added 25 steals in 28 makes an attempt because of his plus velocity. Vaz has expertise at each second base and left subject, aiding the chance he’s taken as a speedy, high-contact utility choice off an MLB bench.
Tigers: RJ Petit, RHP (No. 30)Listed at 6-foot-8, 300 kilos, Petit would deliver loads of dimension to any MLB bullpen, however he brings outcomes to the desk too, having posted a 2.44 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 79 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He leans closely on his 83-85 mph, late-breaking slider in opposition to batters from either side, even getting lefties to whiff on 58.3 % of their swings in opposition to it at Triple-A. Petit additionally works with a mid-90s fastball and upper-80s changeup and has respectable management with out overthrowing.
Twins: Jose Olivares, RHP (No. 24)With a four-pitch combine and a fastball that sat within the mid 90s for almost all of the 12 months, Olivares has a starter equipment that matches the look of an MLB rotation member. The primary caveat working in opposition to him is that he’s but to pitch above Excessive-A, the place he compiled 10.7 Ok/9 in 2025 but in addition ran a 5.7 BB/9 fee that lays naked his want for improved command of his arsenal. A membership who likes what it sees underneath the hood may strive operating him out in a long-relief function earlier than increasing his workload in ‘27 and past.
White Sox: Peyton Pallette, RHP (No. 14)A transfer to the bullpen final July has completed wonders for Pallette, who posted a career-high 12.0 Ok/9 this season (86 in 64 1/3 innings) between Double-A and Triple-A. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and he combines it with a high-spin curveball (persistently north of three,000 rpm) that falls off the desk and a mid-80s changeup (50.8% whiff fee at Triple-A in 2025). A second-round decide within the 2022 Draft, the 24-year-old matches the prototypical mildew (with the extent pedigree to match) of a Rule 5 selectee {that a} membership may plug and play into its bullpen.
Angels: Samy Natera Jr. LHP (No. 20)Buzz first began to percolate round Natera after a formidable five-outing displaying through the Arizona Fall League in 2024, which he adopted up with a dominant debut marketing campaign as a reliever. A Seventeenth-round decide in ‘22 out of New Mexico State (which has despatched simply three pitchers to the large leagues), Natera rode his fastball/slider combo as excessive as Triple-Some time placing out 85 batters in 57 innings. He threw his heater with vital minimize and experience 78.6 % of the time total and was notably stingy in opposition to lefties, whom he neutralized to the tune of a .160 AVG and .559 OPS. At 26, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is knocking on the door of a giant league bullpen as he nonetheless works to hone in his stuff (career-high 6.6 BB/9 in ‘25).
Astros: Alimber Santa, RHP (No. 13)After leaping on prospect radars after he dialed his fastball as much as 100 mph in August 2022, Santa has settled into the mid 90s and located success after a full-time transition to the bullpen that started in mid-2024. Named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Recreation in July, Santa posted a Double-A-best (min. 50 innings) 1.26 ERA this season, which earned him a bump to Triple-A at simply 22 years previous. The Dominican righty has battled his management all through his time within the Minors (6.0 BB/9 fee) however his elite arm velocity, really feel for a changeup and pair of distinct breaking balls may enthrall a membership who buys into his all-around upside.
A’s: Daniel Susac, C (No. 11)The nineteenth total decide from the 2022 Draft, Susac has performed at every cease of the Athletics’ stateside organizational ladder. He took full benefit of the hitter-friendly confines within the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this previous season, posting profession highs in residence runs (18), RBIs (68), OPS (.832) and wOBA (.365). The youthful brother of former MLB catcher Andrew, Daniel has a status as a stable receiver behind the dish with plus make-up besides, attributes that would land him on an MLB roster as quickly as subsequent March as a backup who remains to be refining his all-around sport.
Mariners: Michael Morales, RHP (No. 18)Relationship again to his Single-A debut in 2022, Morales has compiled the Eleventh-most innings (472 1/3) within the Minors. Remarkably sturdy, the third-round decide has made at the least 22 begins 4 years operating. He’s a real combine and match hurler who works with 5 pitches of various speeds, with simply his low-80s changeup score out as above common. His strikeout fee backed up significantly in 2025 (6.2 per 9) however he was two-and-a-half years youthful than his Double-A contest. It should possible by no means be a excessive whiff profile however Morales may present stability in an innings-eater function to an MLB membership that believes in his pitchability.
Rangers: Cameron Cauley, SS/OF/2B (No. 17)Whereas it is probably not a real one-for-one comp, Cauley has most of the similar attributes that led to the Nationals nabbing Nasim Nuñez within the Rule 5 Draft again in 2023: elite velocity and defensive flexibility. Moreover enhancing Cauley’s favor is that he additionally has some appreciable pop, having swatted 15 residence runs for the second straight this 12 months. Operating a 86.9 % stolen-base clip all through his Minor League profession, the 2021 third-rounder has expertise beginning at shortstop, second base and heart subject, making him a major choice for a membership searching for a flexible utility man.
Braves: Blake Burkhalter, RHP (No. 11)Atlanta didn’t add anybody to its 40-man roster forward of the Rule 5 deadline, leaving Burkhalter (amongst many) obtainable. The 6-foot right-hander had stable success as a Double-A starter in 2025 earlier than shifting to the Triple-A bullpen, the place he didn’t miss as many bats (23 strikeouts in 31 innings). His 92-95 mph four-seamer does have spectacular experience (17.9 inches of induced vertical break at Triple-A, on common) and a few reducing motion that might be appetizing for Rule 5 golf equipment, and he has a more true cutter within the upper-80s and a low-80s curveball for righties and a mid-80s changeup for lefties.
Marlins: Matt Pushard, RHP (unranked)The College of Maine product knocked on Miami’s door with a 3.61 ERA, 73 strikeouts and 23 walks in 62 1/3 innings as a Triple-A Jacksonville reliever however by no means broke it down throughout his age-27 season in 2025. His 94-96 mph four-seamer (touching 97.4) recurrently precipitated batters to chase and miss with its mixture of experience and run, and he added an efficient low-80s sweeper to go along with a extra conventional curveball. He doesn’t have as many management points as different potential Rule 5 relievers, although he’s extra possible to reach right-on-right conditions.
Mets: Felipe De La Cruz, LHP (unranked)The 24-year-old left-hander bounced between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 as he couldn’t discover constant success on the Minors’ high stage (7.30 ERA, 32 strikeouts, 17 walks in 24 2/3 innings). He’s a sinker/slider southpaw with a 94-96 mph heater with tons of run and a cutter-like breaking ball within the 84-87 mph vary with a bit of armside break of its personal (roughly two inches on common). Even righties had a whiff fee of 41.8 % in opposition to the slider in Triple-A, so De La Cruz wouldn’t essentially must be lefty-heavy within the Majors. His handedness would possibly nonetheless give him a leg up in consideration.
Nationals: Tyler Stuart, RHP (No. 29)The 6-foot-9 right-hander can be your basic stash candidate as he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure after showing in solely 10 video games whereas battling elbow points this summer season. Acquired from the Mets in July 2024 for Jesse Winker, he struck out 135 batters in 122 1/3 innings at Double-A and Triple-A that season, relying closely on an 82-85 mph slider with good two-plane break. He performs off that with a sinker, changeup and cutter and has sufficient management to maintain beginning as soon as wholesome. If a group had been to select him and preserve him on the IL for all of ‘26, he’d must be energetic for 90 days in ‘27 to stay.
Phillies: Griff McGarry, RHP (unranked)Put together to listen to McGarry’s title quantity as his stuff continues to be promising. His 93-95 mph four-seamer is available in with a flat method and performs up with above-average extension, shortening the choice window for batters. His low-80s sweeper averaged 17-18 inches of gloveside motion in entrance of Statcast, and he has a mid-80s slider that’s a bit of shorter than that; each can generate a heavy quantity of whiffs. However at the same time as McGarry’s management improved from a disastrous 2024, he nonetheless walked 13.9 % of his batters confronted throughout all ranges. A Rule 5 membership must wish to purchase and construct on that progress.
Brewers: Blake Holub, RHP (unranked)Acquired from the Tigers in November 2023 in a straight-up swap for Mark Canha, the 6-foot-6 right-hander first reached Triple-A Nashville in 2024 and posted a 3.70 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 31 walks in 41 1/3 innings there this season. He’s a two-pitch reliever with a 93-95 mph cutter and a 84-86 mph slider, every of which had a whiff fee of 29-30 % in ‘25. Holub comes with practically seven toes of extension and generates a ton of floor balls (50.5 % final season), which may curiosity some Rule 5 golf equipment, however would want to throw extra strikes to stay in an MLB bullpen for a full season.
Cardinals: Pete Hansen, LHP (unranked)The 2022 third-rounder out of Texas has definitely delivered ends in his three full seasons with the Playing cards, most just lately ending with a 3.93 ERA, 123 strikeouts and 37 walks in 137 1/3 innings at Double-A Springfield in ‘25. Contemplating his fastball solely scrapes 92 mph, it’s all in regards to the command and secondary stuff right here, notably an 80-82 mph slider that will get heavy chase and an 81-84 mph changeup that holds off righties.
Cubs: Grant Kipp, RHP (No. 19)Six-foot-six. Elite spin charges. Appreciable velocity beneficial properties. There’s a ton to love in Kipp’s prospect bundle regardless of having turned 26 this offseason. An undrafted free agent who possesses an economics diploma from Yale, he spun a career-best 108 2/3 innings this summer season at Double-A and struck out higher than a batter per inning, all whereas persevering with to refine his arsenal – mid-90s heater, low-80s curve (49.4% whiff fee in 2025, per Synergy), upper-80s cutter, together with a slider and changeup that would fall by the wayside if a membership believes in his quick reduction bona fides.
Pirates: Anthony Solometo, LHP (No. 25)As soon as a pitcher who drew Madison Bumgarner comps for his deception from the left facet, Solometo noticed his velocity drop in 2024 after which battled shoulder points that restricted him to solely 10 2/3 innings this summer season. Nonetheless solely 23 for the 2026 season, he can be a rebuild candidate, somebody golf equipment may stash on the IL as he tried to regain energy within the shoulder and velocity on the fastball. Even when the heater was down, his slider seemed like an above-average pitch, and he has a historical past of displaying common to good command.
Reds: Carlos Jorge, OF/2B (No. 22)Historically, posting a sub-.700 OPS in consecutive seasons wouldn’t get you on many golf equipment’ Rule 5 radars. However Jorge – who repeated Excessive-A this 12 months – ripped off 40 stolen bases, his fifth consecutive marketing campaign with at the least 27 luggage, all whereas operating at an 84.2 % success clip. Think about untapped offensive potential to the very fact the 22-year-old has expertise taking part in all three outfield positions, in addition to second base, and an aggressive membership who believes in his long-term upside may try and stash him as a late-inning baserunner/defensive alternative.
D-backs: Christian Cerda, C (unranked)May Cerda be this 12 months’s Hicks? Just like the Marlins catcher, the 22-year-old has posted spectacular stroll charges at each cease within the Minors, although he trades Hicks’ elite contact charges for a bit of extra energy. Cerda hit a career-high 18 homers in 93 video games for Double-A Amarillo in 2025. Groups gained’t look too closely into that whole alone as Cerda slugged simply .357 away from Amarillo’s residence launching pad, however there’s sufficient right-handed pop and protection there for a Rule 5 membership in want of catching assist to contemplate him.
Dodgers: José Rodríguez, RHP (unranked)Rodriguez has one of the vital distinctive deliveries on this 12 months’s Rule 5 Draft together with his again turned to the batter, adopted by pronounced seven-foot extension and a whiplike arm movement. It helps promote his 86-88 mph changeup (additionally probably the greatest on this 12 months’s R5 class), because it appears to be like very similar to his 95-97 mph sinker in motion till it hits the brakes close to the plate. The cambio had a 67.3 % whiff fee at Triple-A, and you may wager quite a lot of golf equipment wish to get their palms on that and his 85-87 mph brief slider with a 51.2 % whiff fee. Rodriguez additionally walked 14.2 % of his batters confronted with Oklahoma Metropolis, and that lack of management (a probable final result of his supply) may scare them off too.
Giants: Tyler Vogel, RHP (unranked)A Twelfth-round decide in 2022 out of Jacksonville, Vogel hadn’t damaged previous Excessive-A coming into this 12 months, however he loved a breakout 2025 with a 2.88 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings throughout Excessive-A, Double-A and Triple-A in his age-24 season. The 6-foot righty can contact 97 together with his fastball, and his 79-81 mph curveball and mid-80s splitter are very efficient in opposition to lefties with whiff charges above 40 % in opposition to opposite-side bats. Left-handers hit simply .183 in opposition to him in 2025 (in comparison with .313 for righties).
Padres: Francis Pena, RHP (No. 20)Triple-A El Paso is usually a powerful place to pitch, as Pena can attest to after posting a 6.04 ERA in 21 residence video games there in 2025. However basically, final season was a step again for the 24-year-old righty who had dominated in his earlier two stateside seasons. Nonetheless, he provides some attention-grabbing pitches in his 94-97 mph sinker and 86-89 mph two-plane slider, each of which come from greater than seven toes of extension. Pena’s stroll fee greater than doubled from 7.1 % in ‘24 to 14.3 % with the MLB ball in ‘25, and that’ll weigh on his candidacy.
Rockies: Yujanyer Herrera, RHP (No. 17)Herrera didn’t pitch in any respect in 2025 as he recovered and rehabbed from Tommy John surgical procedure, however there’s some beginning potential right here due to the way in which his strike-throwing was bettering earlier than the elbow process. His 92-94 mph fastball and arduous slider each earned common to above-average grades, and there are the makings of a changeup right here too. A Rule 5 membership may oversee the rest of his restoration and provides him rehab outings in-house earlier than higher assessing if he may leap to The Present.
