DALLAS — At the winter meetings, the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft showcased a distinct trend, with pitchers once again taking center stage. Out of the 15 unprotected players selected, 11 were hurlers.
The Chicago White Sox, who had a dismal season finishing with 121 losses, held the first overall pick and opted for Shane Smith, a right-handed pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization. Smith, a 24-year-old undrafted free agent from Wake Forest, joined Milwaukee in July 2021. The towering player, standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 235 pounds, boasts an impressive minor league record. Over three years, he has compiled a 13-7 record alongside a 2.69 ERA and accumulated 203 strikeouts from 157 innings pitched, which includes 19 starts and 54 outings as a reliever.
A total of 14 teams made selections during the major league segment of the Rule 5 draft, which involved players who had been left off 40-man rosters following multiple seasons in the minors. Notably, the Atlanta Braves made two selections after being inactive in the draft since 2017. They first picked right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins as the 11th selection and followed that up by choosing infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th overall pick.
Pilar, at age 26, was originally signed as a minor league free agent by the Colorado Rockies in 2015 and has since participated in 213 minor league games, including 17 starts. He boasts a record of 28 wins against 20 losses with a commendable 2.86 ERA.
For organizations acquiring players in this phase, the cost is set at $100,000. Selected players must remain on the major league roster for the entirety of the following season or must clear waivers and be returned to their prior team for a fee of $50,000. Last December, six out of the ten players picked in the Rule 5 draft, predominantly right-handed pitchers, continued with the teams that drafted them through the subsequent season.
The Minnesota Twins made an impactful choice by selecting right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano, who is celebrated as the minor league pitcher of the year in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization, with the ninth pick overall. The 23-year-old Castellano experienced a successful season across High-A and Double-A leagues, ending with a record of 6-5 and a 3.99 ERA in 103 2/3 innings, striking out 136 batters while allowing 29 walks.
The Phillies secured their own right-handed pitcher in the 14th spot, selecting Mike Vasil from the New York Mets’ system. Meanwhile, two of the four position players drafted by other teams originated from the Detroit Tigers, namely catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman.
The Miami Marlins made the second pick after Colorado chose not to select anyone and opted for Hicks. The Chicago Cubs then chose Workman with their 10th pick.
