Image credit:(Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
As expected, the 2023 MLB Rule 5 draft was one of the shortest in recent memory. Just 10 players were taken, which marked the second-smallest draft class of the 21st century, trailing only the nine players taken in the 2013 edition.
But that didn’t keep the Yankees from being raided. Three different Yankees righthanders were selected, including the top two picks: Mitch Spence and Matt Sauer. That continues a tradition. Since 2000, the Yankees have had 32 players selected in the MLB Rule 5 draft, a full 8.9% of all 357 players selected over that span. The Guardians have lost the second most at 26.
This was viewed as a less talented Rule 5 class than normal, in large part because the 2020 draft was cut from 40 rounds to five because of the coronavirus pandemic. This is the first year in which college players as well as 19-year-old high school draftees were eligible for Rule 5 selection. With so many fewer players entering the minors in 2020, the effects were felt downstream in 2023.
That’s also apparent in who was selected. A full 60% of this year’s picks have been Rule 5 eligible in a past draft as well: Spence, Sauer, Anthony Molina, Ryan Fernandez, Justin Slaten and Carson Coleman.
2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft Order
FIRST ROUND
1. Oakland A’s — Mitch Spence, RHP, Yankees
2. Kansas City Royals — Matt Sauer, RHP, Yankees
3. Colorado Rockies — Anthony Molina, RHP, Rays
4. Chicago White Sox — Shane Drohan, LHP, Red Sox
5. Washington Nationals — Nasim Nunez, SS, Marlins
6. St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Fernandez, RHP, Red Sox
7. Los Angeles Angels — PASS
8. New York Mets — Justin Slaten, RHP, Rangers
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — PASS
10. Cleveland Guardians — Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, D-Backs
11. Detroit Tigers — PASS
12. Boston Red Sox — PASS
13. San Francisco Giants — PASS
14. Cincinnati Reds — PASS
15. San Diego Padres — Stephen Kolek, RHP, Mariners
16. New York Yankees — PASS
17. Chicago Cubs — PASS
18. Miami Marlins — PASS
19. Arizona Diamondbacks — PASS
20. Minnesota Twins — PASS
21. Seattle Mariners — PASS
22. Toronto Blue Jays — PASS
23. Texas Rangers — Carson Coleman, RHP, Yankees
24. Philadelphia Phillies — PASS
25. Houston Astros — PASS
26. Milwaukee Brewers — PASS
27. Tampa Bay Rays —
28. Los Angeles Dodgers —
29. Baltimore Orioles — PASS
30. Atlanta Braves — PASS
SECOND ROUND
1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Washington Nationals — PASS
6. St. Louis Cardinals
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. New York Mets — PASS
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Cleveland Guardians
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Cincinnati Reds
15. San Diego Padres — PASS
16. New York Yankees
17. Chicago Cubs
18. Miami Marlins
19. Arizona Diamondbacks
20. Minnesota Twins
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. Texas Rangers — PASS
24. Philadelphia Phillies
25. Houston Astros
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Tampa Bay Rays
28. Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Baltimore Orioles
30. Atlanta Braves
Minor League Phase
FIRST ROUND
1. Oakland A’s — PASS
2. Kansas City Royals — Joe Gray Jr., OF, Brewers
3. Colorado Rockies — Brendan Hardy, RHP, Mets
4. Chicago White Sox — Jose Ramirez, RHP, Red Sox
5. Washington Nationals — Samuel Vasquez, RHP, Guardians
6. St. Louis Cardinals — Johnfrank Salazar, INF, Red Sox
7. Los Angeles Angels — Eric Wagaman, 1B, Yankees
8. New York Mets — Donovan Antonia, C, Reds
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — Fineas Del Bonta-Smith, LHP, Rockies
10. Cleveland Guardians – Tyler Brown, RHP, Astros
11. Detroit Tigers — Nick Starr, RHP, Rangers
12. Boston Red Sox — Mickey Gasper, C, Yankees
13. San Francisco Giants — Nick Garcia, RHP, Rockies
14. Cincinnati Reds — T.J. Sikkema, LHP, Royals
15. San Diego Padres — Clay Dungan, 2B, Royals
16. New York Yankees — Gabriel Barbosa, RHP, Rockies
17. Chicago Cubs — Hayden Cantrelle, 2B, Giants
18. Miami Marlins — Uriel Martinez, OF, Mets
19. Arizona Diamondbacks — Darlin Pinales, RHP, Dodgers
20. Minnesota Twins — Rafael Marcano, LHP, Phillies
21. Seattle Mariners — PASS
22. Toronto Blue Jays — Alexis Hernandez, OF, Red Sox
23. Texas Rangers — PASS
24. Philadelphia Phillies — William Simoneit, C, A’s
25. Houston Astros — Reylin Perez, RHP, Red Sox
26. Milwaukee Brewers — PASS
27. Tampa Bay Rays — Michael Gomez, RHP, Yankees
28. Los Angeles Dodgers — PASS
29. Baltimore Orioles — Nelvis Ochoa, RHP, Rockies
30. Atlanta Braves — Tyler Thomas, LHP, Mets
SECOND ROUND
1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals — Keylan Killgore, LHP, Phillies
3. Colorado Rockies — Thomas Ponticelli, RHP, Guardians
4. Chicago White Sox — PASS
5. Washington Nationals — Wander Arias, RHP, Royals
6. St. Louis Cardinals — Miguel Villarroel, SS, Rangers
7. Los Angeles Angels — Ryan Miller, RHP, Red Sox
8. New York Mets — Alan Perdomo, RHP, Rockies
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — Seth Beer, 1B, D-backs
10. Cleveland Guardians — Connor Gillispie, RHP, Orioles
11. Detroit Tigers – Calvin Coker, RHP, A’s
12. Boston Red Sox — PASS
13. San Francisco Giants — Dariel Lopez, INF, Pirates
14. Cincinnati Reds — Alexander Ovalles, OF, Rays
15. San Diego Padres — Omar Cruz, LHP, Pirates
16. New York Yankees — Kervin Castro, RHP, Astros
17. Chicago Cubs — PASS
18. Miami Marlins — Marty Costes, OF, Astros
19. Arizona Diamondbacks — Andy Weber, INF, Cubs
20. Minnesota Twins — Rafael Escalante, C, Pirates
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. Texas Rangers
24. Philadelphia Phillies — Luis Caicuto, C, D-backs
25. Houston Astros — Carlos Betancourt, RHP, Phillies
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Tampa Bay Rays — Roelmy Garcia, RHP, Pirates
28. Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Baltimore Orioles — PASS
30. Atlanta Braves — PASS
THIRD ROUND
1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals — Ryan Fitzgerald, 2B, Red Sox
3. Colorado Rockies — PASS
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Washington Nationals — Daison Acosta, RHP, Mets
6. St. Louis Cardinals — Benito Garcia, RHP, Mets
7. Los Angeles Angels — PASS
8. New York Mets
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — Marcos Cabrera, 3B, Yankees
10. Cleveland Guardians — John Doxakis, LHP, Rays
11. Detroit Tigers — PASS
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Cincinnati Reds – Levi Jordan, SS, Cubs
15. San Diego Padres
16. New York Yankees — PASS
17. Chicago Cubs
18. Miami Marlins — Sean Roby, 3B, Giants
19. Arizona Diamondbacks — John Matthews, RHP, Rangers
20. Minnesota Twins — Angel Del Rosario, INF, Blue Jays
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. Texas Rangers
24. Philadelphia Phillies — Carson Taylor, C, Dodgers
25. Houston Astros
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Tampa Bay Rays — Blake Brown, RHP, Phillies
28. Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Baltimore Orioles
30. Atlanta Braves
FOURTH ROUND
1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Washington Nationals — Moises Gallardo, OF, A’s
6. St. Louis Cardinals
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. New York Mets
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — P.J. Hilson, OF, Giants
10. Cleveland Guardians
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Cincinnati Reds — Brock Bell, RHP, Red Sox
15. San Diego Padres
16. New York Yankees
17. Chicago Cubs
18. Miami Marlins — Adam Laskey, LHP, Cubs
19. Arizona Diamondbacks
20. Minnesota Twins — Sheldon Reed, RHP, Cubs
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. Texas Rangers
24. Philadelphia Phillies — Trevor Schwecke, INF, Blue Jays
25. Houston Astros
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Tampa Bay Rays — PASS
28. Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Baltimore Orioles
30. Atlanta Braves
FIFTH ROUND
1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Washington Nationals
6. St. Louis Cardinals
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. New York Mets
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Cleveland Guardians
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Cincinnati Reds – PASS
15. San Diego Padres
16. New York Yankees
17. Chicago Cubs
18. Miami Marlins — Julio Dilone, RHP, Mariners
19. Arizona Diamondbacks
20. Minnesota Twins — PASS
21. Seattle Mariners
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. Texas Rangers
24. Philadelphia Phillies — Bryce Ball, 1B, Guardians
25. Houston Astros
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Tampa Bay Rays
28. Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Baltimore Orioles
30. Atlanta Braves
Who Is Eligible For The Rule 5 Draft?
Any player not added to a team’s 40-man roster is eligible if they meet the following criteria:
You can find our analysis of every key roster protection in November here.
What Are The Rules?
The draft order is set in the reverse order of the standings from the preceding season. Teams can bypass their selection. At that point, the draft moves on to the following team in the order and continues until every team skips their pick and/or runs out of space on their 40-man roster.
A team can select any eligible player from another team’s roster for $100,000. They must keep that player on their active 26-man roster for the duration of the 2024 season. If they choose to remove the player from their roster, they must waive him. If the player clears waivers, he is offered back to his original team.
There is also a minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, which occurs after the MLB phase. These players do not need to be kept on the big league roster.
Who Are Some Famous Rule 5 Draft Picks?
It’s not uncommon to see upwards of 15-20 players selected in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft. Red Sox righthander Garrett Whitlock and Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo are two recent examples of Rule 5 picks—both were selected in 2021—who made immediate impacts in their new organizations.
Outfiedler Josh Hamilton, lefthander Johan Santana, outfielder Shane Victorino and second baseman Dan Uggla are other fairly recent examples of Rule 5 success stories.
You can see our 21st Century All-Rule 5 Draft Team here.
Who Are Some Popular Names This Year?
Pitching is generally the most coveted demographic in the Rule 5 Draft, especially bullpen arms, but there are several “archetypes” of players teams typically seek. We’re hearing Rangers righthanded reliever Justin Slaten is a potential name for the 2023 draft.
You can see our full breakdown of potential selections this year, including scouting reports for each player, here.
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