The Rule 5 Draft, held in Orlando, Florida, saw a strong focus on right-handed pitchers this year. Out of the 13 players selected in the Major League phase, 12 were right-handed pitchers. The Colorado Rockies began the draft by selecting RJ Petit from the Detroit Tigers. The only interruption to the run on pitchers came when the Minnesota Twins picked catcher Daniel Susac from the Oakland Athletics before trading him to the San Francisco Giants.
In addition to the Major League selections, 55 players changed organizations during the Triple-A phase of the draft. This brought the total number of picks to 68, which is fewer than last year’s total of 83.
Players eligible for selection in this phase are those who turned professional at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022 and are not on a team’s 40-man roster. Teams that select a player must pay $100,000 to his former team and keep him on their active Major League roster for the following season. If they wish to send him to the minors, he must first clear waivers and be offered back to his original organization for half his draft price.
Among notable moves involving Philadelphia Phillies personnel, Griff McGarry was selected by the Washington Nationals during the Major League phase. In exchange, Philadelphia added Zach McCambley from the Miami Marlins via Rule 5 selection.
Marlins director of Minor League operations Hector Crespo commented on losing two pitchers: “Super excited for both those guys,” Crespo said. “Obviously, I have a long history with both Pushard and McCambley, so it’s really a testament to our pitching group and the depth that we’ve been able to obtain over the course of years and even the last couple.
“So happy for those guys. I think they’re going to be great, but really proud of our pitching group, just to have guys that were identified by other teams that get a chance now to hopefully, or at one point, contribute to a Major League roster.”
The Nationals were particularly active this year; they selected Griff McGarry from Philadelphia and acquired six more players during the Minor League phase.
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said: “I think it’s a good opportunity,” Toboni stated. “You only have so many opportunities every year to upgrade the Minor League player pool. I think while we went into it with an aggressive mindset, it all comes down to the individual players and the intrigue each of them provide.”
The Rule 5 Draft allows teams an annual opportunity to add new talent if those players are not protected on their original club’s main roster (https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-results-2024). This system is designed so clubs can acquire promising prospects who may otherwise remain blocked within their current organizations.
