The annual Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET in Orlando, Florida, marking the conclusion of the Winter Meetings. The event will be streamed live on MLB.com and offers Major League Baseball teams an opportunity to select players who are not currently on a 40-man roster.
The draft order is determined by the reverse order of last season’s standings, with the Colorado Rockies holding the first pick after finishing with the worst record in 2025. The Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, and Pittsburgh Pirates follow in the selection order. If teams finished with identical records in 2025, their draft position is based on their win-loss records from the previous year.
To be eligible for selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, players must have turned professional at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022 and not be on a team’s 40-man roster. Teams selecting a player must pay $100,000 to his former team and keep him on their active big league roster throughout the following season. Players cannot be sent to the minors without first clearing waivers and being offered back to their original organization for half of their draft price.
There is also a Minor League phase during which any player not protected on a big league or Triple-A roster can be selected for $24,000. Players chosen in this phase do not face any roster restrictions with their new organizations.
Last year’s Major League Rule 5 Draft saw fifteen players selected; three remained with their new organizations throughout the entire season: Shane Smith (White Sox), Liam Hicks (Marlins), and Angel Bastardo (Blue Jays). Since 2012, seven Rule 5 selections have accumulated over five career Wins Above Replacement (bWAR), including Mark Canha (14.6) and Odúbel Herrera (13.3).
Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente is widely regarded as the best player ever taken in a Rule 5 Draft. In more recent decades, notable picks include Joakim Soria and Mark Canha among others who have made significant impacts after being selected through this process.
Several unprotected prospects are drawing attention ahead of this year’s draft: Blue Jays outfielder Yohendrick Pinango (No. 7), Braves pitcher Blake Burkhalter (No. 11), Red Sox right-hander Yordanny Monegro (No. 26), Marlins righty Zach McCambley (unranked), Angels pitchers Samy Natera Jr. (No. 20) and Jared Southard (unranked), as well as Yankees reliever Harrison Cohen (No. 30).
“Every year, Rule 5 sounds the closing bell on the Winter Meetings by providing big league opportunities for a few players who may not have gotten them so immediately otherwise.”
“This year’s version will take place in Orlando, Fla., at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday — streaming live on MLB.com — once again giving teams the chance to bolster their rosters and snag low-risk talent to help them in the season to come.”
“There is nothing else in baseball quite like the Rule 5 Draft, traditionally the final number of the annual Winter Meetings.”
“Players who turned pro at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022 are eligible for selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft if he isn’t on a 40-man roster.”
“Clubs which take a player in that phase must pay his former team $100,000 and keep him on their active big league roster throughout the following season.”
“The player can’t be sent to the Minors without first clearing waivers and then getting offered back to his original organization for half his Draft price.”
“There is also a Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Anyone not protected on a big league or Triple-A roster is eligible, with cost of selection $24,000.”
“Players selected in this phase of the Rule 5 Draft aren’t subject to any roster restrictions with their new organizations.”
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