The Rule 5 Draft occurred Wednesday on the Winter Conferences in Dallas. The Dodgers had a protracted listing of prospects that had been eligible to be taken this 12 months, they usually solely protected one, selecting to provide left-handed reliever Jack Dreyer a 40-man roster spot final month.
This left some high-profile and high-ceiling names out there for different groups within the Rule 5 Draft. The Dodgers could have gotten fortunate by solely shedding one participant within the Main League part: left-handed reliever Garrett McDaniels.
McDaniels had a breakout marketing campaign this season, and it was aided by his switching to a reduction position midway via the 12 months. He started 2024 in Single-A, beginning in seven of his 11 appearances and pitching to a 3.80 ERA throughout 45 innings. His 22.3% strikeout price and 11.7% stroll price every left one thing to be desired.
That modified when McDaniels was promoted to Excessive-A in June and despatched right down to the bullpen. From that time on, he appeared in 21 video games between his time in Excessive-A and a fast Double-A stint, pitching to a 2.22 ERA, 33.9% strikeout price and 5.1% stroll price. Batters hit simply .193 in opposition to him and McDaniels didn’t enable a single house run after transferring to reduction.
A hammer breaking ball popping out of an ungainly launch is one of the best pitch for McDaniels, and it’s a weapon in opposition to each righties and lefties:
The Angels chosen #Dodgers LHP prospect Garrett McDaniels within the Rule 5 Draft
McDaniels, who is popping 25 this month, transitioned to a reduction position halfway via 2024. By means of his remaining 21 video games, McDaniels posted a 2.22 ERA, 1.57 FIP and 28.8 Ok-BB% pic.twitter.com/wICjpzZxXn
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) December 11, 2024
The previous undrafted free agent out of College of Mount Olive turns 25 later this month and has a reasonably good ceiling to dream upon for the Angels. That mentioned, McDaniels has solely pitched in two video games on the Double-A degree, leaving him with little expertise within the higher ranges. For the reason that Angels took him within the Main League part of the draft, he should stay on their 26-man roster the whole 2025 season, or else be supplied again to the Dodgers for $50,000.
Though shedding McDaniels is actually unlucky for the Dodgers, that they had quite a lot of expertise that managed to make it via the draft for which they must really feel grateful. Ryan Ward is my greatest shock to not be taken: Though he lacks defensive versatility, Ward led the Pacific Coast League in homers final 12 months, and backed up his season with a dominant efficiency for Workforce U.S.A. within the Premier 12 worldwide match. Ward is able to hit within the Main Leagues, however doesn’t have a transparent path there with the Dodgers.
Different notable names that had been in danger embrace gifted right-handers Carlos Duran, Jose Rodriguez and Jerming Rosario, in addition to versatile utilityman Austin Gauthier. Energy-hitting outfielder Damon Keith, contact-oriented infielder Yeiner Fernandez and bat-first nook infielder Andre Lipcius are another gamers who had been out there however will stay with the Dodgers for now.
——
Minor League Section
Within the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft, the Dodgers misplaced 4 gamers whereas including one. The minor league service time facet of the eligibility guidelines are the identical for this part because the Main League part; nevertheless, for the minor league part, gamers are protected by being on their group’s Triple-A roster and don’t have to be on the 40-man roster.
Every participant chosen within the minor league part prices $24,000, so the Dodgers solely chosen one participant earlier than skipping their remaining picks: Orioles outfield prospect John Rhodes. A 3rd spherical decide again in 2021, Rhodes was seen as a possible average-or-better participant in all 5 instruments as he was drafted out of Kentucky. Nevertheless, he has struggled to hit up to now in his skilled profession, batting simply .225 via 324 video games.
Rhodes’ first full Double-A season was one of the best stretch of his profession up to now. Within the first three months of 2023, the Tennessee native slashed .266/.364/.447 with 23 extra-base-hits. Rhodes’ season flipped in July, as he batted simply .191 with a .680 OPS via the remainder of the season. His struggles carried into 2024, as he returned to Double-A however struggled to the tune of a .580 OPS in 104 video games.
The Dodgers will look to tweak Rhodes’ swing and get him again on monitor offensively. He performed a mixture of nook outfield and first base this 12 months for Bowie and is an outfielder by commerce. A change of surroundings may very well be simply what the 24-year-old wants.
——
As for who the Dodgers misplaced within the minor league part, it started with right-hander Hyun-il Choi being nabbed by the Nationals. Choi signed with the Dodgers out of Korea again in 2018 and has labored his method up the ladder since. Though he didn’t debut within the Majors with the Dodgers, Choi served an essential organizational position this season, bouncing between Double-A and Triple-A to fill innings as wanted whereas the Dodgers frantically known as gamers as much as fill their very own injury-caused wants.
Subsequent, the Mets chosen right-handed reliever Michael Hobbs. The 25-year-old pitched to a 2.97 ERA in Double-A final season. His strikeout price was simply 22%, however Hobbs has the stuff to progress as a reliever transferring ahead within the Mets group.
The Marlins chosen Orlando Ortiz-Mayr subsequent. An undrafted free agent in 2021, Oritz-Mayr crammed stable innings over his three seasons on the mound within the Dodgers system. Equally to Choi, Ortiz-Mayr ate quite a lot of essential innings this season, and he ended up main the system with 135 2/3 complete frames.
#Dodgers RHP prospect Orlando Ortiz-Mayr tonight for Tulsa:
7.0 IP
3 H
0 R
1 BB
7 Ok
83 P / 54 SHeck of an outing for Ortiz-Mayr pic.twitter.com/eZP3pPTOeK
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 6, 2024
Lastly, the Twins chosen Complicated League catcher Jefferson Valladares. Nonetheless simply 22 years outdated, Valladares was signed again in 2019 however has solely performed in 15 video games on the Single-A degree. The Venezuela native has an .866 OPS in his skilled profession, principally in rookie ball.
——
Total, the Dodgers must be pleased with in the present day’s outcomes. The 40-man roster was an enormous crunch this offseason, however they didn’t pay a lot of a value within the Rule 5 Draft. Though weren’t awarded a 40-man roster spot this offseason gamers like Ryan Ward, Carlos Duran and Austin Gauthier have a stable probability to make their MLB debuts in 2025, they usually signify high quality depth that may stay within the group.
