Scouting the 2025 Rule 5 Draft

The foremost league section 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 signify every group’s 40-man roster rely getting into the draft.

Earlier than we get to the reviews, our annual refresher on the Rule 5 Draft’s complicated guidelines. The draft proceeds in reverse order of the standings from the newest 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 dad or mum membership has not but added them to the group’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 stated participant’s former membership $100,000, but in addition (b) maintain the participant on their 26-man lively roster all through the whole lot of the next season, with a few exceptions that principally contain the injured listing. If a particular participant doesn’t make his new group’s lively roster, he’s supplied again to his former group for half of the preliminary price. After the participant’s first yr on the roster, he might be optioned again to the minor leagues.

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

The paradoxically 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 technique 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 aircraft on his fastball, however the addition of a second fastball kind (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 examine, 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 Purple 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 listing. Then in 2025 his launch level modified (barely increased 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 capability 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 threat and reward prospect due to the damage. He’s slight of construct and will not have the physicality to be a giant league starter, however he actually has the command and stuff (92-94 mph, plus uncooked spin on a number of breakers, plus changeup) to be within the combine as a great group’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 numerous factors alongside his prospect journey, and at one level was in consideration for the Prime 100 listing right here at FanGraphs. He’s been wild in current 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 hassle repeating his supply. His arm slot particularly tends to float, increased within the combination in terms of spin than his fastballs, but in addition with substantial variation from pitch to pitch. Maybe a extra simplified method would be the tonic. He has just a little stick with it the fastball on account of a low slot and launch, and if he will get any extra velocity briefly stints, you’ll be able to dream on a plus fastball/slider mixture. You possibly can perceive why Washington want to see if they’ll 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 on account of his capability to catch. He has good arms, reportedly works nicely with the workers, and ought to be at the very least a median defensive catcher. The bat hasn’t come alongside in any respect, although. Regardless of first rate floor degree stats, Susac is overly aggressive, and his sluggish bat and surround-the-ball swing are unlikely to translate nicely in opposition to elite arms. He initiatives as a backup or third catcher relying on how a lot you just like the protection. Would possibly a household connection have performed a task? 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 abilities. He isn’t 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 somewhat than head to TCU. Accidents have outlined Baumler’s profession so far, 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 regardless that he handled extra shoulder and again stuff. Baumler’s fastball velo was method 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 trip of his heater, a pitch greatest 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 have the ability to thrive in a reduction function by pitching off his glorious, resurgent fastball. He’s like a weight loss program Hunter Harvey. — EL

Bonus Commerce Report: Garcia, 20, is a 6-foot-4 conversion arm who acquired bombed in his first two DSL seasons on the mound earlier than he lastly acquired some traction in 2025. The hulking drop-and-drive righty is presently 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 suffering from gamers much like those the Angels use considerably excessive draft picks on — near-ready reduction sorts who’re flawed however throw exhausting —and each of us have been perplexed by their determination to not add somebody right here given how a lot house 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 Purple 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 reduction function, the place he has thrived (27% Ok%, 8% BB%, 1.31 WHIP, 3.68 ERA since 2024), climbing to Triple-A. He sits 93-96 mph, generates seven toes of extension, and generates plus miss with a type of “demise ball” sliders that has an abnormally low spin charge, proper round 2,000 rpm. He was pitching for Licey within the Dominican Winter League earlier this offseason with barely lowered stuff (his fastball was down a couple of tick), however appears to be like like a reasonably commonplace center reduction 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 massive 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 a giant, slower-twitch man with an extended and considerably stiff arm path — Pushard has all the time thrown strikes. The stuff is generally 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 massive 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 a giant 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 massive 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 massive league innings and after the season (and some different roster strikes) signed a minor league take care of the Reds. Muñoz is a type of guys whose poor fastball motion and lack of command make his heater susceptible regardless 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 usually. A few of Roddery’s sliders appear like Brad Lidge’s greatest 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 stunning if he struggled to throw strikes so badly subsequent spring that he can’t stick on the Astros’ roster, but when their teaching workers can dial him in sufficient, they may have a second Bryan Abreu on their arms. — EL

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

After ending his sophomore season at Arkansas, Pallette seemed poised to be an early decide within the following summer season’s draft, maybe the primary pitcher off the board if issues broke proper. Sadly, Pallette caught a tear as an alternative 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 inconsistently since then. He didn’t pitch till the again half of 2023, wanted a while to kick the rust off, and had a tough trip as a starter at each A-ball ranges. He’s had extra success in reduction, and reached Triple-A Charlotte in 2025. A few of the underlying basis that made him a giant 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 massive fade. The fastball has all the time performed under the quantity because of the form, however Pallette has nonetheless used it incessantly. Cleveland looks as if a stable match for him, because the membership could also be higher outfitted to assist him discover a higher utilization stability 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 Purple 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 value him all however just a few weeks of the previous couple of common seasons; he has thrown simply 14.2 affiliated innings since turning professional. However when Miles has been wholesome, he’s seemed 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 wrong way with equally nasty size, and every so often, Miles may even present you a great changeup and curveball. His supply isn’t overly violent and he has fantastic really feel for location (particularly of his fastball), however his damage observe report suggests he was in all probability all the time going to be a reliever, which is all however a achieved deal now that he’s a Jay. He is perhaps 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 the perfect long-term likelihood to stay a starter. The previous eighth rounder out of UT-Arlington reached Double-A in 2025 and labored 106 complete 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 constantly locates his 94-97 mph fastball to the up-and-arm-side quadrant of the zone, the place it performs greatest, after which bends in a number of totally 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 comfy pitching backwards, which he could must do in opposition to massive league lefties on account of a scarcity of changeup. His management provides him a greater likelihood to stay than among 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 way of 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 a great 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 just a little stunning Miami by no means gave him a shot. On the power of his plus slider, he initiatives 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 sturdy 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 instances his fastball has nasty minimize. 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 route and high quality as a result of his really feel for launch remains 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 group’s set-up man if he can proceed enhancing on the charge he did in 2025. — EL

All different groups handed within the second spherical.