Let’s check in on the players chosen in the 2018 Rule 5 draft …
Still On MLB Roster
Richie Martin, SS: The first overall selection, moving from the Athletics to the Orioles, Martin is about as intriguing a future asset as we see available in the Rule 5 these days. He has been overmatched early, with a rough showing in camp and 11 strikeouts in his first 26 MLB plate appearances. But the O’s seem all but certain to hang tight and achieve permanent rights over the 24-year-old shortstop.
Reed Garrett, RHP: The Tigers provided Garrett plenty of innings this spring and saw him cough up eight walks to go with 11 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings. But they liked the upper nineties heat, which Garrett combines primarily with a cutter. He’s through two clean outings in the majors and seems likely at least to receive a long look — if he’s ever offered back to the Rangers at all.
Travis Bergen, LHP: The Giants were another club with eyes for the Rule 5 this year. They’ve cycled through a few players but only Bergen remains on the 40-man. He’ll be kept from the Blue Jays unless he stumbles. The results so far have been quite encouraging. Bergen was strong this spring and has been thrown right into the mix early, handling himself well in five appearances thus far.
Elvis Luciano, RHP: One of the more surprising Rule 5 decisions this spring involved Luciano, a high-powered but raw hurler who was snagged from the Royals by the Blue Jays. Luciano turned 19 at the outset of camp and looked every bit his age in spring action. But the talent proved too tantalizing to resist for the Toronto organization. That could still change, but this has all the makings of a situation where a non-contender is determined to keep a Rule 5 player it really likes.
Kyle Dowdy, RHP: A 26-year-old left unprotected by the pitching-rich Indians, Dowdy had a marginal spring performance that left the contending Mets unwilling to hang onto him. But the Rangers were there to scoop him up. The numbers have never really jumped off the page for Dowdy, but the Texas organization will see if his varied pitch mix can work in a pen role — with the idea that he could ultimately also represent a rotation depth piece.
Brandon Brennan, RHP: When the Mariners were snubbed by Brennan, who signed a minors deal with the Rockies early in the offseason, they just shrugged their shoulders and grabbed him in the Rule 5. The 27-year-old has already thrown 6 2/3 innings over five appearances, putting up blanks on the scoreboard while recording seven strikeouts against just one walk.
Injured List
Riley Ferrell, RHP: The Marlins were set to give the former Astros third-round pick a look in hopes that he’d finally tamp down on his walk issues and capitalize on his high-K arm. Biceps soreness drove Ferrell to the injured list, an injury that may ultimately make it somewhat easier for the Miami organization to hold onto his rights while limiting his immediate MLB exposure.
DFA Limbo
Connor Joe, INF/OF: Picked by the Reds, then acquired by the Giants, Joe got a look to begin the year in San Francisco. But he managed only one hit in 16 plate appearances and was cast off of the 40-man roster to make way for Tyler Austin. Joe will now be offered back to the Dodgers if he clears waivers.
Chris Ellis, RHP: Plucked from the Cardinals, Ellis moved from the Rangers to the Royals on Rule 5 draft day. He hung on through Opening Day and got his first taste of MLB action, but lost his roster spot thereafter. The Royals evidently liked what they saw from Ellis, so it’s possible they’ll try to work something out with the St. Louis organization if he clears waivers.
Drew Jackson, INF: Another draft-day mover, Jackson was selected by the Phillies from the Dodgers and was promptly shipped to the Orioles for international draft bonus capacity. A power burst last year at Double-A created enough intrigue for Jackson to hang on through Opening Day, but he was moved off the 40-man early on and will be offered back to Los Angeles unless he’s claimed by another club.
Returned
Sam McWilliams, RHP: The second overall selection didn’t last with the Royals, who sent him back to the Rays after an exceedingly rough showing in camp (eight earned runs, 2:6 K/BB ratio in 4 2/3 innings).
Jordan Romano, RHP: Another player that had a look with the Rangers, Romano was dealt to the Texas org by the White Sox after being selected from the Blue Jays. He had solid numbers last year at Double-A but obviously didn’t impress the Rangers’ brass in camp, when he worked to a 3.86 ERA with six strikeouts and five walks in 9 1/3 frames.
Nick Green, RHP: The Diamondbacks sent Green back to the Yankees after watching the 24-year-old struggle through 13 1/3 innings in camp (11 walks vs. 8 strikeouts).
Drew Ferguson, OF: One of many outfielders to get a look from the Giants this spring, Ferguson was sent back to the Astros organization after scuffling badly in Cactus League action (.111/.294/.111 in 34 plate appearances).
Brennen has looked great so far for the M’s, and with the state of their bullpen, he’ll probably lead the team in saves(but take that for what you will).
Drew Ferguson was also returned to the Astros.
I really like the Dowdy kid. He was throwing 97 the first game he pitched for Texas. He has some good stuff. Now he just needs some good coaching.
I think dowdy will last all season with the rangers. Just give him time, rangers need all the help they can get from pitching
As an Indians fan, I keep hoping the Rangers offer him back. But I wouldn’t at all be surprised if they keep him for the year.
Won’t Ellis be offered back to the cardinals as well?
Likely, as he’s in DFA limbo.
If he clears waivers, he’ll be offered back.
Yeah, I just didn’t happen to phrase it that way. But I will tweak it in case there’s actually any confusion on that point.
You have linked a young Nick Green listed as a pitcher to the career statistics of an infielder, now in his 40s, who has the same name of Nick Green. Just thought I’d let you know.
Saw that too. I remember reading years ago in a USA Today Sports Weekly “Getting to Know…” article the elder Mr. Green said he was a conservative who NEVER read anything ever. Guess that extended to scouting reports judging by how his career turned out…..
Thanks, the auto-linker keeps grabbing the wrong guy and we keep forgetting to address it.
Maybe you should put the auto-linker on waivers? Better yet, maybe a DFA is in order?
No way, it’d take forever to do all the links without it. You don’t drop a star player because he occasionally has a baserunning misadventure!
Initially thought Travis Bergen would be a no-brainer add to the Jays 40-man after ending last season. Obviously I was wrong when the team has the great Tim Mayza. I guess Bergen’s 0,95 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in the minors wasn’t all that effective. Hoping Bergen has a tremendous season for San Fran.
Richie Martin will have a higher career WAR than Skye Bolt and probably Marcus Semien too.
How was Elvis Luciano eligible for Rule 5 to begin with? He’s 19 years old with only two years of professional service with the Royals. I’m missing something here
He re-worked his original contract, making him eligible
Actually, Elvis was part of a trade with the diamondbacks last summer. Jeffrey Flanagan explained It back in December, but I forget the details, about how it was possible to lose him.
Technically, Nick Burdi is still eligible to be returned to the Twins by the Pirates, even tho he was selected last year.
Yes, he is. This article is pretty poorly written, they have left off multiple R5 players. Drew Ferguson was returned by the SFG to the Astros as well.
Oh, right. Ferguson was in round 2. I’ll add him.
Otherwise, I never claimed to be addressing all open Rule 5 situations. Araujo was another just resolved from prior seasons. As stated, we were looking at the 2018 draft only in this post.
Lot of former top prospects on this list. Everyone trying to tap that untapped potential!
Chris Ellis was a guy I really thought would be a nice bullpen piece for the braves. He’s got good stuff but something is a little off.
Jordan Romano pitched well in Double A… He only pitched 6 innings in Triple A. Did you not know that?
I guess I did not know that. Made a mistake when I looked at his statistics.
Hoping that the O’s will be able to work out a deal with the Dodgers to keep Jackson. Maybe some more of that international money.
Why is Nick Burdi on the list.. Rule 5 guy also
From a prior year’s draft. I was just looking at the most recent one.