18 for '20: Rule 5 Draft results
It turned out to be an active Rule 5 Draft after all. Topped by right-hander Jose Soriano, 18 players were chosen in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday -- equal to the number of selections in 2017 and 2016 and just shy of the 19
It turned out to be an active Rule 5 Draft after all.
Topped by right-hander Jose Soriano, 18 players were chosen in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday -- equal to the number of selections in 2017 and 2016 and just shy of the 19 players picked in 2010.
Players taken as part of Thursday's process -- held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic -- must stick with their new clubs for the duration of the 2021 season (or at least 90 days on the active roster if they spend time on the injured list) or else be offered back to their original club. Rule 5 picks cost $100,000, and the players are offered back at $50,000 if they do not stick with their new team.
Following the lack of a Minor League season in 2020, it was a legitimate question about how active this year's Rule 5 Draft would be due to a lack of player scouting at the lower levels. However, clubs seemed willing to rely on what notes and data they had to make the 2020 edition a fairly robust class, likely because of the relatively low cost the Rule 5 Draft provides to potentially add impact talent.
Soriano heads to Pittsburgh, where he'll bring a 70-grade fastball and above-average curve. He underwent Tommy John surgery last February and could be a stash candidate for the rebuilding Pirates. Former Dodgers reliever Brett de Geus went to the Rangers with the second pick, and he'll attempt to stick with two plus pitches in his fastball and curve and an above-average slider. He was a 33rd-round pick out of junior college in 2017, an indication of just how far he's come since entering the pro ranks. The Tigers stayed in the division by taking Twins outfielder Akil Baddoo with the third overall selection. The former Minnesota prospect is a plus runner who has played mostly center field in the Minors but has experience at all three outfield spots. Baddoo underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2019 but should be good to go for a potentially full 2021 season in the Motor City.
The Orioles and Athletics were the only clubs to make multiple selections on their own in this year's Major League phase. The Pirates also came away with two picks after trading for former Cleveland pitcher Luis Oviedo from the Mets, who will receive cash considerations. The D-backs originally selected Zach Pop but traded the former Orioles hurler to the Marlins for a player to be named later.
There were 56 selections made in the Minor League phase of this year's Rule 5 Draft. Such selections cost $24,000 and do not come with a roster requirement for the 2021 season.
The full list of 2020 Rule 5 picks for the Major and Minor League phases are listed below:
| MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POS | OLD ORG | 2019 Notes |
| 1 | PIT | Jose Soriano | RHP | LAA | 2.55 ERA, 84 K, 48 BB in 77 2/3 IP at Class A |
| 2 | TEX | Brett de Geus | RHP | LAD | 1.75 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 72 K in 61 2/3 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 3 | DET | Akil Baddoo | OF | MIN | .214/.290/393, 9 HR in 29 G at Class A Advanced |
| 4 | BOS | Garrett Whitlock | RHP | NYY | 3.07 ERA in 70 1/3 IP at Double-A; Tommy John surgery in 2019 |
| 5 | BAL | Mac Sceroler | RHP | CIN | 3.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 127 K in 117 IP at Class A Advanced |
| 6 | MIA | Zach Pop | RHP | BAL | 0.84 ERA, 11 K in 10 2/3 IP at Double-A; TJ surgery in 2019 |
| 7 | COL | Jordan Sheffield | RHP | LAD | 3.27 ERA, 74 K, 43 BB in 55 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 8 | LAA | Jose Alberto Rivera | RHP | HOU | 3.81 ERA, 95 K, 36 BB in 75 2/3 IP at Class A |
| 9 | PIT | Luis Oviedo | RHP | CLE | 5.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 72 K in 87 IP at Class A |
| 10 | SEA | Will Vest | RHP | DET | 3.27 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 58 K in 55 IP across three levels |
| 11 | PHI | Kyle Holder | INF | NYY | .265/.336/.405, 9 HR in 112 G at Double-A |
| 12 | SF | Dedniel Nunez | RHP | NYM | 4.39 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 94 K in 80 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 13 | MIA | Paul Campbell | RHP | TB | 3.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 112 K in 144 2/3 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 14 | CHC | Gray Fenter | RHP | BAL | 1.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 123 K in 94 1/3 IP at Class A |
| 15 | CLE | Trevor Stephan | RHP | NYY | 4.73 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 91 K in 80 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 16 | OAK | Ka'ai Tom | OF | CLE | .290/.380/.532, 23 HR at Triple-A/Double-A |
| 17 | BAL | Tyler Wells | RHP | MIN | Missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery; 6-foot-8 |
| 18 | OAK | Dany Jimenez | RHP | OAK | Rule 5 pick but didn't stick with Giants; made two appearances |
| TRIPLE-A PHASE | |||||
| 1 | PIT | Shea Spitzbarth | RHP | LAD | 4.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 89 K at Triple-A/Double-A |
| 2 | TEX | Matt Wivinis | RHP | NYY | 2.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 55 K in 50 1/3 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 3 | DET | Yunior Perez | RHP | CHC | 4.73 ERA, 30 K, 21 BB in 26 2/3 IP at Class A Short Season |
| 4 | BOS | Tyreque Reed | 1B | TEX | .270/.365/.487, 18 HR across three levels |
| 5 | BAL | Rickey Ramirez | RHP | MIN | 3.80 ERA, 50 K, 18 BB across three levels |
| 6 | ARI | Tyler Gilbert | LHP | LAD | 2.83 ERA, 46 K, 14 BB in 47 2/3 IP at Triple-A in PHI system |
| 7 | LAA | Brendon Davis | INF | TEX | .202/.298/.272, 3 HR at Double-A |
| 8 | NYM | Drew Ferguson | OF | HOU | .281/.395/.440, 11 HR, 27 SB at Triple-A |
| 9 | SEA | Amador Arias | INF | TB | played 13 games at GCL |
| 10 | SF | Vince Fernandez | OF | COL | .257/.346/.543, 15 HR at Double-A |
| 11 | HOU | Joe Record | RHP | MIN | 5.07 ERA, 68 K over 55 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 12 | MIA | Jake Fishman | LHP | TOR | 3.45 ERA, 74 K, 18 BB in 62 2/3 IP at Double-A |
| 13 | CIN | Errol Robinson | INF | LAD | .260/.343/.344, 5 HR, 9 SB at Triple-A/Double-A |
| 14 | STL | Garrett Williams | LHP | LAA | 3.60 ERA, 108 K, 61 BB in 110 IP at Double-A |
| 15 | TOR | Sebastian Espino | INF | NYM | .251/.303/.332, 2 HR at Rookie Advanced |
| 16 | NYY | Matt Krook | LHP | TB | 4.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 52 K in 50 IP at Double-A |
| 17 | CHC | Nicholas Padilla | RHP | TB | 3.48 ERA, 76 K, 29 BB in 62 IP at Class A |
| 18 | CWS | Martin Carrasco | RHP | SD | 1.23 ERA, 48 K, 6 BB in 29 1/3 IP at Class A Short Season, Rookie |
| 19 | CLE | Chris Roller | OF | LAD | .274/.359/.455, 7 HR at Class A |
| 20 | ATL | A.J. Puckett | RHP | CWS | 3.98 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 119 K in 135 2/3 IP at Class A Advanced |
| 21 | OAK | Zach Jackson | RHP | TOR | 3.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 68 K in 68 IP at Triple-A |
| 22 | MIN | Jhonleider Salinas | RHP | TB | 3.27 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 68 K in 66 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 23 | SD | Yorman Rodriguez | C | TOR | .360/.387/.502, 5 HR at Class A/Class A Short Season |
| 24 | TB | Jordan Brink | RHP | STL | three appearances in Rookie ball |
| 25 | LAD | Ryan January | C | ARI | .255/.386/.406, 3 HR at Class A/Class A Short Season |
| 26 | PIT | Claudio Finol | SS | CIN | .219/.275/.310, 1 HR at Class A/Rookie Advanced |
| 27 | TEX | Yohel Pozo | C | SD | .246/.274/.357, 9 HR at Class A Advanced |
| 28 | BOS | Kaleb Ort | RHP | NYY | 3.40 ERA, 78 K in 50 1/3 IP across three levels |
| 29 | BAL | Chris Hudgins | C | KC | .254/.329/.433, 9 HR at Class A/Rookie Advanced |
| 30 | LAA | Gustavo Campero | C | NYY | .293/.374/.414, 2 HR at Rookie Advanced |
| 31 | NYM | Justin Dillon | RHP | TOR | 3.63 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 103 K in 124 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 32 | SF | Ronnie Williams | RHP | STL | 4.01 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 58 K in 58 1/3 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 33 | HOU | Seth Martinez | RHP | OAK | 2.51 ERA, 74 K, 18 BB in 71 2/3 IP at Double-A/Class A Advanced |
| 34 | MIA | Dylan Bice | RHP | TEX | 1.31 ERA, 29 K in 20 2/3 IP across three levels |
| 35 | CIN | Wilfred Astudillo | C | NYM | .267/.323/.408, 5 HR at Rookie Advanced |
| 36 | NYY | Reggie McClain | RHP | PHI | 19 appearances in MLB for SEA and PHI |
| 37 | CHC | Samuel Reyes | RHP | PIT | 2.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 73 K in 70 2/3 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 38 | ATL | Jalen Miller | INF | SF | .216/.287/.332, 11 HR, 27 SB at Double-A |
| 39 | OAK | Brett Graves | RHP | MIA | 2.60 ERA, 73 K in 62 1/3 IP at Triple-A/Double-A; 21 career MLB appearances |
| 40 | MIN | Josh Mitchell | LHP | KC | 3.30 ERA, 47 K, 13 BB at Class A Advanced |
| 41 | SD | Ben Ruta | OF | NYY | .260/.330/.396, 8 HR, 25 SB at Double-A |
| 42 | TB | Ezequeil Zabaleta | RHP | NYM | 3.24 ERA, 60 K, 16 BB in 58 1/3 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 43 | LAD | Roimer Bolivar | OF | TB | .323/.471/.432, 1 HR, 15 SB in DSL |
| 44 | PIT | Jeffrey Passantino | RHP | CHC | 3.03 ERA, 104 K, 14 BB in 89 IP across four levels |
| 45 | TEX | Justin Marsden | RHP | TB | 5.79 ERA, 48 K in 46 2/3 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 46 | BAL | Ignacio Feliz | RHP | SD | 4.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 55 K in 57 1/3 IP at Class A Short Season |
| 47 | NYM | Drew Jackson | INF | LAD | .209/.300/.319 6 HR at Triple-A; 2019 Rule pick in MLB phase |
| 48 | SF | Mitchell Tolman | INF | NYM | .256/.342/.362, 6 HR, 10 SB at Triple-A/Double-A |
| 49 | MIA | Marcus Chiu | INF | LAD | .215/.341/.383, 14 HR at Class A Advanced |
| 50 | CIN | Chuckie Robinson | C | HOU | .217/.275/.324, 7 HR at Double-A |
| 51 | ATL | Jacob Pearson | OF | MIN | .233/.303/.338, 5 HR at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 52 | NYM | Jesus Reyes | RHP | CIN | 5.03 ERA, 64 K, 54 BB in 77 IP at Triple-A |
| 53 | CIN | Yoel Yanqui | 1B | ARI | .270/.355/.436, 6 HR, 19 SB at Class A Advanced/Rookie |
| 54 | NYM | Jose Zorrilla | LHP | CIN | 8.84 ERA, 26 K in 19 1/3 IP at Rookie Advanced |
| 55 | CIN | Wes Robertson | RHP | TEX | 4.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP in 27 IP at Class A Advanced/Class A |
| 56 | CIN | Steven Leyton | SS | ARI | .222/.302/.320, 4 HR at Class A/Class A Short Season |
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.
MiLB podcast previews Futures Game, MLB Draft
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Podcast: New Erie identity, new ballparks, new Top 100
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most