SAN DIEGO — The return of a Rule 5 pick in the winter meeting for the first time since 2019 brought a packed house and plenty of activity on the major league stage Wednesday afternoon.
In the Rule 5 portion, a total of 15 players were drafted, starting with the Nationals selecting right-hander Thad Ward from the Red Sox and ending with the Mets selecting right-hander Zach Greene from the Yankees. That’s fewer than the 18 players drafted during the last major league phase, which took place remotely in 2020 (due to the lockout, 2021 didn’t happen at all.). That’s the most since 2010, when 19 players were drafted.
Players at the major league stage can be drafted for $100,000 and must remain on the major league active roster or return to their original team for $50,000.
There was also a flurry of activity at the minor league stage, with 67 picks, bringing the player total to 82, topping the 2020 tally of 74 and tying for the most Rule 5 drafts since 1983 (82 players also picked in 2002 ).
Before the draft, it was widely believed that the Nationals would use the No. 1 pick to bolster their major league roster, and they did so by selecting Ward from Boston. Ward, who was No. 15 in the Red Sox’s top 30 and No. 13 in Washington, relied heavily on his above-average slider and had a 92-96 mph drop. ball. He’s strong in the 2022 regular season and in the Arizona Fall League as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in 2021.
“When we do the selection under Rule 5,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said, “it’s a balance between the upside pitchers you want to really hit and making sure you can keep guys on the roster all season. …He has a good four-pitch mix pitch, he throws enough strikes, he’s a savvy enough pitcher and a contender he can stay in the majors. We believe his speed could Going back to where we were before Tommy John, there’s some upside.”
Rizzo said he sees traits in Ward as a starter, but added that he could be a multi-inning pitcher type if he were to stay in the majors.
It would be the first of three players the Red Sox have lost at the major league stage, including the most intriguing pick of the day. The Phillies drafted Red Sox fourth-round pick Noah Song from the Naval Academy in 2019, even though the right-hander has just 17 pro games on his resume and none since 2019. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski worked with the Red Sox on drafting Song, so he’s well aware of his strengths.
Boston had hoped Song would be released from his Navy commitments, but that didn’t happen and he remained on the military reserve list for the duration of his service. The Phillies could keep him on the roster so he doesn’t take a spot on the 40-man roster and minimize the risk as much as possible.
“We made sure to double check that he was draftable, and he was,” Dombrowski said. “I knew him at the time (in the 2019 draft). We loved him. We thought he was the No. 1 pick; we thought he might be the best starting pitcher in the country. We took a gamble then because we thought maybe he Didn’t have to serve, but he eventually had to.
“With availability like this, we really have nothing to lose. We really like his talent. We put him on the military list right away, so he’s not on our 40-man roster. We thought we’d take a chance , and see what happens in the end. Anyway, it’s a longshot, but worth a shot, we think. I don’t know if anyone knows exactly when he can retire. But given the cost of the draft, we think it’s worth signing him .”
Once Song returns from the reserve roster, he will be subject to the usual Rule 5 requirements, meaning he must be placed on the active major league roster and remain there for the entire season.
The Dodgers also lost three players, with the A’s selecting first baseman Ryan Noda with the No. 2 pick, the Buccaneers selecting left-hander Jose Hernandez with the No. .
Rule 5 has historically been pitch-heavy, and this year’s version leans significantly toward the mound, with pitchers accounting for 13 of 15 pitchers. Only Noda (whose power bat fits the A’s lineup) and outfielder Blake Sabol (originally drafted by the Reds from the Pirates) bucked the trend.
“I like the power,” A’s general manager David Foster said, adding that Noda might hit the outfield corner. “I love walking. I love first base defense. We’ve asked the Dodgers a lot about him the last two years. His name came up on the [Adam] Kolarek deal and other potential deals. This is finally our chance to give him a chance. He’s done everything you could ask for in Double-A and Triple-A over the past two years, so I’m looking forward to giving him a chance. “
Two deals were announced shortly after the conclusion of the Rule 5 draft. For cash considerations, the Rays acquired right-hander Kevin Kelly, who was drafted by the Rockies, while the Reds sent Sabol to the Giants for a player to be named later.
The Rule 5 draft also has a minor league phase, and the cost of a Triple-A pick rises from $12,000 to $24,000 (anyone not protected by the major leagues or the Triple-A list is eligible). The Double-A stage has been eliminated. Players selected in this portion of the Rule 5 draft are not subject to any roster restrictions for their new organization.
round 1
A – RHP Joelvis Del Rosario, via PIT
Buccaneers — RHP Wei-Chieh Huang, via SF
Reds — RHP Kyle Glooski, via PHI
Royals – SS Shervyen Newton from PHI
Tigers — RHP Layne Henderson, via HOU
Rockies – LHP Eli Lingos from CLE
Marlins — 3B Dane Myers via DET
Angel – Ronaldo Flores, from SF
D-backs — RHP Taylor Rashi, via SF
Cubs — LHP Jose Aquino from SEA
Twins — OF Armani Smith, from SF
Red Sox — LHP Joe Jacques, PIT
White Sox — RHP Ernesto Jaquez, via HOU
Orioles — RHP Alfred Vega, via NYY
Brewers – 2B Isaac Collins from COL
Rays — RHP Hector Perez, via BAL
Phillies — SS Pedro Martinez from TB
Padres – 3B Evan Mendoza from STL
Mariners — 1B Francisco Tostado, out of SF
Guardian – RHP Bradley Hanner, from MIN
Blue Jays – C Kekai Rios from LAD
Cardinals — C Jose Alvarez from HOU
Yankees — LHP Pablo Mujica, via KC
Mets — RHP Wilkin Ramos, via PIT
Warriors — RHP Domingo Gonzalez, via PIT
Astros — LHP Max Roberts, via SEA
Dodgers — RHP Yon Castro, via NYY
second round
Pirates – Joshua Palacios from WSH
Redskins – RHP Brooks Crawford, SF
Rockies – RHP Nicholas Kuzia via DET
Marlins — RHP Austin Roberts, via PIT
Angel – Jared Oliva from PIT
D-backs – RHP Denny Larrondo, via NYY
Cubs — RHP Nick Burdi, via SD
Twins – SS Yohander Martinez, from HOU
Red Sox — RHP Ryan Miller, via NYY
Orioles – Trey McGough, LHP, PIT
Rays – Enmanuel Mejia, RHP from PIT
Phillies — RHP Yoniel Ramirez, via SF
Mariners – SS Logan Warmoth, via TOR
Guardian – C Michael Berglund from TB
Cardinals — RHP Brandon Komar, via SD
Mets — Agustin Ruiz from SD
Astros – LHP Bryan King from CHC
Dodgers — RHP Carlo Reyes, via PHI
third round
Marlins — RHP Cristian Charles, via PIT
Angel – SS Riley Unroe from SEA
D-backs – RHP Peter Solomon, via PIT
Cubs — Jefferson Encarnacion via PHI
Twins – INF Yoyner Fajardo from PIT
Orioles – C Randy Florentino from TEX
Rays — RHP Nelson Alvarez, via NYY
Phillies – RHP Zach Linginfelter, via LAA
Guardian – RHP Justin Lewis, via ARI
Cardinals — RHP Jose Martinez from LAD
Mets — 2B Jonathan Arauz from BAL
Astros — RHP Manuel Urias via PHI
Dodgers – Josh Stowers from TEX
round 4
Angels — RHP Willian Suarez, via SF
Twins – RHP Seth Nordlin from TEX
Phillies — SS Cameron Cannon from BOS
Cardinals — RHP Ryan Shreve, via MIN
Metropolis – SS Mateo Gil from COL
Astros – LHP Luis Rodriguez, CHC
fifth round
Phillies — RHP Trey Cobb, NYM
Round 6
Phillies — C Cody Roberts from BAL
round 7
Phillies — INF Oliver Dunn, via NYY
