Scouting the 2025 Rule 5 Draft

The key league part of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft was held Wednesday on the Winter Conferences in Orlando and concluded with 13 gamers being chosen to affix new organizations. Under are our ideas on these gamers. The numbers you see in parentheses symbolize every staff’s 40-man roster depend getting into the draft.

Earlier than we get to the stories, our annual refresher on the Rule 5 Draft’s advanced guidelines. The draft proceeds in reverse order of the standings from the latest season. Gamers who signed their first professional contract at age 18 or youthful are eligible for choice after 5 years of minor league service if their mother or father membership has not but added them to the staff’s 40-man roster; for gamers who signed at age 19 or older, the timeline is 4 years. These golf equipment that choose a participant should not solely (a) pay mentioned participant’s former membership $100,000, but in addition (b) maintain the participant on their 26-man lively roster all through the whole thing of the next season, with a few exceptions that largely contain the injured record. If a particular participant doesn’t make his new staff’s lively roster, he’s provided again to his former staff for half of the preliminary charge. After the participant’s first yr on the roster, he will be optioned again to the minor leagues.

First Spherical1. Colorado Rockies (37)RJ Petit, SIRP, from the Tigers

The satirically named Petit (the 6-foot-8 right-hander sadly pronounces it like it’s in Andy Pettitte, not like it’s in Yusmeiro Petit) was the Tigers’ 2021 14th rounder out of Charleston Southern and pitched his approach to Triple-A Toledo in 2025, amassing a 2.44 ERA throughout 66.1 innings of labor. Petit is a reasonably commonplace mid-90s fastball (94-97 mph, contact 98) and a plus slider reliever. He makes use of his slider in all counts as a result of his measurement creates hittable airplane on his fastball, however the addition of a second fastball sort (he throws each elevated four-seamers and in-zone two-seamers) helped restrict opponents’ contact high quality in opposition to his heaters in 2025, as each had a sub-.300 xwOBA in opposition to. Petit additionally creates sufficient sink on his changeup to maintain lefties in verify, so his function isn’t liable to being minimized to that of a righty specialist if he throws sufficient strikes (no ensures) to make the Rockies bullpen subsequent spring. — EL

2. Chicago White Sox (35)Jedixson Paez, SP, from the Pink Sox

When Paez is buzzing, he’s among the many most entertaining pitchers within the minors, a whippy-armed decrease slot man with an extremely quick arm motion and nice secondary stuff. The undersized 21-year-old Venezuelan righty started his professional profession as a sinker service provider with precocious management earlier than his secondary pitches and velocity each took a significant leap in 2024 and Paez retained his superlative command. A hyper-efficient strikeout and stroll efficiency mixed with burgeoning stuff gave him a quick-moving mid-rotation projection and a spot on the Prime 100 record. Then in 2025 his launch level modified (barely larger slot, significantly much less extension), his fastball misplaced a few of its effectiveness, and Paez solely made seven begins due to a calf pressure, which could have impacted his potential to drive down the mound. Although he felt like a higher-floored prospect 12 months in the past due to the superlative strike-throwing, Paez is now a better danger and reward prospect due to the harm. He’s slight of construct and will not have the physicality to be an enormous league starter, however he definitely has the command and stuff (92-94 mph, plus uncooked spin on a number of breakers, plus changeup) to be within the combine as an excellent staff’s no. 4. — EL

3. Washington Nationals (37)Griff McGarry, SIRP, from the Phillies

A fifth rounder out of Virginia in 2021, McGarry has had helium at varied factors alongside his prospect journey, and at one level was in consideration for the Prime 100 record right here at FanGraphs. He’s been wild in latest seasons, however the Phillies have continued creating him as a starter within the hope that he’d discover extra mechanical consistency and let his above-average arm power and deep arsenal play in longer outings.

That really feel has confirmed to be elusive. He walked greater than 5 per 9 in 2025, which was each a two-to-one enchancment yr over yr and too wild to justify a spot on the membership’s 40-man roster. McGarry has bother repeating his supply. His arm slot specifically tends to float, larger within the mixture relating to spin than his fastballs, but in addition with substantial variation from pitch to pitch. Maybe a extra simplified strategy would be the tonic. He has a bit of stick with it the fastball as a result of a low slot and launch, and if he will get any further velocity briefly stints, you’ll be able to dream on a plus fastball/slider mixture. You may perceive why Washington want to see if they will unlock 40 management. — BG

4. Minnesota Twins (39)Daniel Susac, C, from the Athletics, traded to the Giants for C Miguel Caraballo

The Athletics’ first rounder out of Arizona again in 2022, Susac was seen as a high-floor choice on the time as a result of his potential to catch. He has good palms, reportedly works properly with the employees, and must be no less than a mean defensive catcher. The bat hasn’t come alongside in any respect, although. Regardless of first rate floor stage stats, Susac is overly aggressive, and his sluggish bat and surround-the-ball swing are unlikely to translate properly in opposition to elite arms. He tasks as a backup or third catcher relying on how a lot you just like the protection. May a household connection have performed a job? Susac is the youthful brother of Andrew Susac, who was Giants GM Buster Posey’s backup at one level. — BG

Bonus Commerce Report: Caraballo, 17, is a bodily switch-hitting catcher with energy and on base expertise. He’s not an excellent defender but. — EL

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (39)Carter Baumler, SIRP, from the Orioles, traded to the Rangers for Jaiker Garcia

The Rangers picked up Baumler, as soon as a extremely touted excessive schooler who signed for second spherical cash ($1.5 million) within the 2020 draft’s fifth and closing spherical fairly than head to TCU. Accidents have outlined Baumler’s profession up to now, as a Tommy John and shoulder surgical procedures restricted him to twenty or fewer innings in every of his professional seasons till 2025, when he reached Double-A and threw practically 40 frames despite the fact that he handled extra shoulder and again stuff. Baumler’s fastball velo was approach up in 2025, and he was sitting 93-97 with exploding life. He generated fastball miss and chase charges of about 33%, each plus-plus markers. Off of that he bends in a 12-to-6 curveball that pairs properly with the pure vertical experience of his heater, a pitch finest deployed within the strike zone earlier than Baumler elevates his fastball to place hitters away. A mid-80s slider makes the occasional look, however Baumler ought to be capable of thrive in a aid function by pitching off his wonderful, resurgent fastball. He’s like a food regimen Hunter Harvey. — EL

Bonus Commerce Report: Garcia, 20, is a 6-foot-4 conversion arm who obtained bombed in his first two DSL seasons on the mound earlier than he lastly obtained some traction in 2025. The hulking drop-and-drive righty is at the moment pitching within the Venezuelan Winer League, the place he’s touched 98 and is flashing a plus changeup, albeit with very crude really feel for location. — EL

6. Los Angeles Angels (35)The Rule 5 expertise pool is plagued by gamers much like those the Angels use considerably excessive draft picks on — near-ready aid varieties who’re flawed however throw exhausting —and each of us had been perplexed by their resolution to not add somebody right here given how a lot area they’ve on their roster and the way badly they want expertise.

7. Baltimore Orioles (40)Go

8. Athletics (39)Ryan Watson, SIRP, from the Giants, traded to the Pink Sox for 2B Justin Riemer

The Dodgers drafted Watson out of highschool, however he selected to go to Auburn and later grew to become an undrafted free agent signee with Baltimore. After elements of 4 seasons, he was traded to the Giants for money and moved right into a aid function, the place he has thrived (27% Okay%, 8% BB%, 1.31 WHIP, 3.68 ERA since 2024), climbing to Triple-A. He sits 93-96 mph, generates seven ft of extension, and generates plus miss with a kind of “dying ball” sliders that has an abnormally low spin price, proper round 2,000 rpm. He was pitching for Licey within the Dominican Winter League earlier this offseason with barely diminished stuff (his fastball was down a couple of tick), however appears like a reasonably commonplace center aid prospect. — EL

Bonus Commerce Report: Riemer is a talented contact hitter (91% zone contact) who performs a number of positions (2B/3B/LF) however has bottom-of-the-scale energy that limits him to an eventual low-end utility function. — EL

9. Atlanta Braves (40)Go

10. Tampa Bay Rays (40)Go

11. St. Louis Cardinals (39)Matt Pushard, SIRP, from the Marlins

Pushard has taken the sluggish lane to the brink of the large leagues. Teammates with Jeremy Peña on the College of Maine, Pushard spent six years in faculty and was an undrafted free agent signing again in 2022. Although not particularly athletic — he’s an enormous, slower-twitch man with an extended and considerably stiff arm path — Pushard has at all times thrown strikes. The stuff is usually common. He sits within the mid-90s with a tough slider and a definite curve. Neither goes to reliably generate a ton of chase down and out of the zone, and he’s extra of a groundball pitcher than a strikeout man anyway, however there’s huge league utility in pitchers who can get fast outs with out strolling the world. Whether or not that’s sufficient to interrupt camp with the Cardinals stays to be seen, however Pushard ought to have an enormous league future someplace, in all probability in an up-down or low-leverage capability. — BG

12. Miami Marlins (39)Go

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (40)Go

14. Texas Rangers (34)Go

15. San Francisco Giants (39)Go

16. Kansas Metropolis Royals (38)Go

17. Cincinnati Reds (39)Go

18. New York Mets (39)Go

19. Detroit Tigers (39)Go

20. Houston Astros (39)Roddery Muñoz, SIRP, from the Reds

Muñoz is the uncommon Rule 5 decide who’s already misplaced rookie eligibility, as the previous Courageous, Marlin, Nationwide, and Cardinal made 17 huge league begins in 2024. The Cardinals moved Muñoz to the bullpen in 2025 and his bat-missing outcomes took a leap within the minors, however he struggled to search out the zone in his 11 huge league innings and after the season (and some different roster strikes) signed a minor league take care of the Reds. Muñoz is a kind of guys whose poor fastball motion and lack of command make his heater susceptible despite the fact that he’ll contact 99 mph. In 2025, he grew to become extra of a cutter/slider man and threw his fastball a lot much less typically. A few of Roddery’s sliders seem like Brad Lidge’s finest ones; they’re 90 mph and drop straight off the desk with break that appears extra like a curveball. He has possibly 20-grade management and it wouldn’t be shocking if he struggled to throw strikes so badly subsequent spring that he can’t stick on the Astros’ roster, but when their teaching employees can dial him in sufficient, they may have a second Bryan Abreu on their palms. — EL

21. Cleveland Guardians (38)Peyton Pallette, SIRP, from the White Sox

After ending his sophomore season at Arkansas, Pallette regarded poised to be an early decide within the following summer time’s draft, maybe the primary pitcher off the board if issues broke proper. Sadly, Pallette caught a tear as a substitute of a break and missed the season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure. He fell to the White Sox within the second spherical.

Pallette has progressed erratically since then. He didn’t pitch till the again half of 2023, wanted a while to kick the rust off, and had a tough experience as a starter at each A-ball ranges. He’s had extra success in aid, and reached Triple-A Charlotte in 2025. A number of the underlying basis that made him an enormous prospect in faculty stays. He can run it as much as 97 and has good really feel to spin each a slider and curve; there’s additionally a practical change, a pronator’s cambio with huge fade. The fastball has at all times performed beneath the quantity as a result of form, however Pallette has nonetheless used it continuously. Cleveland looks like a stable match for him, because the membership could also be higher geared up to assist him discover a higher utilization steadiness in his arsenal, and maybe tweak the form of his breaking balls to unlock a extra dependable swing-and-miss pitch in opposition to elite bats. — BG

22. Boston Pink Sox (39)Go

23. Seattle Mariners (38)Go

24. San Diego Padres (36)Go

25. Chicago Cubs (31)Go

26. Los Angeles Dodgers (38)Go

27. Toronto Blue Jays (37)Spencer Miles, SP, from the Giants

Miles went undrafted when he was first eligible as a sophomore in 2021 and went within the fourth spherical in 2022 after posting an ERA over 6.00 at Mizzou. Again and elbow points have price him all however just a few weeks of the previous few common seasons; he has thrown simply 14.2 affiliated innings since turning professional. However when Miles has been wholesome, he’s regarded like a possible mid-rotation starter. Working throughout 2025 Tutorial League and within the Arizona Fall League, Miles was sitting 94-97, topping out at 98, and bending in 4 distinct pitches, a number of of which flash plus. A few of his fastballs have hellacious tailing motion, whereas a few of his low-90s cutters dart in the other way with equally nasty size, and every now and then, Miles will even present you an excellent changeup and curveball. His supply isn’t overly violent and he has superb really feel for location (particularly of his fastball), however his harm monitor file suggests he was in all probability at all times going to be a reliever, which is all however a accomplished deal now that he’s a Jay. He could be value stretching again out as a starter in 2027 if he finally ends up making Toronto’s roster and sticks as a reliever in 2026. — EL

28. New York Yankees (35)Cade Winquest, SP, from the Cardinals

Of all of the pitchers taken on this yr’s Rule 5 Draft, Winquest may need one of the best long-term probability to stay a starter. The previous eighth rounder out of UT-Arlington reached Double-A in 2025 and labored 106 whole innings with a 3.99 ERA. He’s a bouncy 6-foot-2 and has each starter-quality athleticism and physicality at a well-composed 205 kilos. Plus, Winquest persistently locates his 94-97 mph fastball to the up-and-arm-side quadrant of the zone, the place it performs finest, after which bends in a number of completely different breaking balls — cutters, curveballs and sliders — off of that pitch. Winquest’s fastball spins up round 2,600 rpm on common, however none of his breakers has something close to that sort of grease. He’s higher at touchdown his breakers within the zone than he’s at dotting them for chase, and he’s snug pitching backwards, which he could must do in opposition to huge league lefties as a result of a scarcity of changeup. His management provides him a greater probability to stay than a few of the different draftees this yr, however he could not have a second plus pitch in his bag and simply find yourself a fastball-heavy reliever. — EL

29. Philadelphia Phillies (34)Zach McCambley, MIRP, from the Marlins

McCambley has progressed slowly by Miami’s system since reaching Double-A as a starter in 2022. He has common arm power and might contact 97, however the round-down form traits on the heater(s) has pushed him to rely extra on his cutter and slider. He took a step ahead as a strike-thrower in 2025 and had an excellent yr in Triple-A Jacksonville’s bullpen. His really feel for spin, significantly pronounced on the slider, helped him miss fairly just a few bats this season, and it’s a bit of shocking Miami by no means gave him a shot. On the power of his plus slider, he tasks as a low-mid-leverage reliever, whether or not with the Phillies or another person down the road if he doesn’t break camp with one of many robust contenders within the NL East. — BG

30. Milwaukee Brewers (39)Go

Second Spherical

2. Chicago White Sox (35)Alexander Alberto, SIRP, from the Rays

Alberto is constructed like an Andean condor at a lanky 6-foot-8 and handled unspeakable management points all through the primary half decade of his professional profession earlier than he took a significant step ahead as a strike-thrower in 2025, when he lastly exited Low-A on the age of 23. Alberto will contact 100-101 mph, and at occasions his fastball has nasty lower. He was higher in a position to find his fastball and cutter towards the underside of the zone in 2025, the place A-ball hitters struggled to raise them due to their velocity. Alberto’s cutters and sliders have variable course and high quality as a result of his really feel for launch continues to be fairly crude, however when he locates them, they’re efficient. He’s removed from a lock to make Chicago’s roster out of camp subsequent spring, however he has a non-zero shot to finish the yr because the staff’s set-up man if he can proceed bettering on the price he did in 2025. — EL

All different groups handed within the second spherical.