Let’s check in on the players chosen in the 2018 Rule 5 draft …
On Active MLB Roster
Richie Martin, SS, Orioles (from Athletics): While most Rule 5 draftees have been shipped back to their original organizations or shelved on the injured list, Martin is sill grinding on the Orioles’ roster. It hasn’t been pretty, as Martin has struck out in 29.2% of his 240 plate appearances while maintaining an ice-cold 81.0 mph average exit velocity. He carries paltry .191/.249/.300 batting line and grades out as a distinct negative at shortstop. He has simply been one of the worst players in baseball. But the rebuilding O’s can take the pain and obviously feel it’s worth the while for the toolsy 24-year-old.
Brandon Brennan, RHP, Mariners (from Rockies): There have been some ups and downs over the course of the season. Brennan has a 55.4% ground-ball rate and has compiled 9.3 K/9 on a 13.7% swinging-strike rate. Unfortunately, he is also dishing out too many free passes (5.3 BB/9) and carries a 5.56 ERA. A strained shoulder offered a respite, but Brennan was activated from the injured list today. With the M’s continuing to churn through pitching to keep their staff afloat, it’s likely Brennan will be afforded further opportunity to establish himself in the majors.
Injured List
Travis Bergen, LHP, Giants (from Blue Jays): The southpaw was mostly solid for the first month and a half of the season, getting knocked around twice for multiple runs but putting up zeroes in fifteen of his sixteen other appearances. Through 17 innings, he carried a 4.24 ERA with 15 strikeouts and seven walks. His 6.7% swinging-strike rate wasn’t exactly cause for excitement, and he’d have faced a tough path to keep his roster foothold over the ensuing months, but a shoulder injury put Bergen on ice. Now well into his rehab, where he owns a 3.63 ERA and 18:10 K/BB ratio in 17 1/3 innings, Bergen could be sent packing if the surprisingly competitive Giants don’t want to clear active and 40-man roster space when he’s ready.
Elvis Luciano, RHP, Blue Jays (from Royals): Still 19, Luciano has been completely overmatched in the bigs. In 27 2/3 innings over twenty appearances, he carries a 6.51 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 23 walks. But the Jays are committed to earning full rights over the live-armed youngster. Now that he’s on ice for an elbow strain, the roster pressures are eased. If Luciano makes it back this year, he’ll likely continue to see sparing action while running out the clock. If not, the team will simply need to put him on the active roster for at least 14 days in order to acquire his rights permanently. (To be kept, a player must be kept on the MLB roster for an entire season, with at least ninety days spent on the active roster. Luciano spent 76 days with the Jays this year before hitting the IL.)
Returned After Start Of Season
Kyle Dowdy, RHP, returned to Indians by Rangers (via Mets): The 26-year-old never found a groove in Texas, allowing more walks (18) than he generated strikeouts (17) in his 22 1/3 innings while pitching to a 7.25 ERA. He hasn’t thrown well in the minors, either, though most of his innings came in a rehab stint with the Rangers. We’ll see whether the Cleveland organization can help him unlock the talent that led to his initial selection.
Riley Ferrell, RHP, returned to Astros by Marlins: Not only did Ferrell endure the tumult of the Rule 5 process, but he failed even to get a single MLB appearance out of the whole affair. An ill-timed, late-spring injury cut off his chance at earning an Opening Day job and the Marlins decided against creating roster space after watching Ferrell’s rehab work. Now back in the Houston organization, he has thrown 7 1/3 solid frames in the upper minors, allowing just one earned run while recording nine strikeouts against four walks.
Reed Garrett, RHP, returned to Rangers by Tigers: It seemed Garrett had a real shot at staking out a bullpen role in Detroit, but he couldn’t keep his edge. Through 15 1/3 MLB innings, he was tagged for 14 earned runs and managed only an ugly 10:13 K/BB ratio. Things haven’t gone all that much better since Garrett landed back at Triple-A with the Rangers org. He’s sporting a 6.03 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 31 1/3 innings there.
Connor Joe, INF/OF, returned to Dodgers by Giants (via Reds): Soon to turn 27, Joe didn’t impress in a 16-plate appearance sample with San Francisco to hang onto his roster spot. But he’s turning in strong work at Triple-A now that he’s back with the Dodgers. Joe owns a .300/.427/.526 slash with 14 home runs and a healthy combination of sixty walks and 68 strikeouts.
Drew Jackson, INF, returned to Dodgers by Orioles (via Phillies): The 26-year-old barely got a look in the majors, striding to the plate four times but failing to record his first hit. Unfortunately, he has not followed up on a promising 2018 campaign now that he’s back in the Dodgers system. In 251 plate appearances at Triple-A, Jackson is slashing just .223/.328/.340.
Chris Ellis, RHP, returned to Cardinals by Royals (via Rangers): Ellis has gone backwards since going back to the St. Louis organization after just one MLB outing in Kansas City. He has been tagged for 7.49 earned runs per nine in 57 2/3 innings. Ellis’s walk total, 37, matches the number he gave out last year — in 132 2/3 frames.
Returned Before Start Of Season
Sam McWilliams, RHP, returned to Rays by Royals: The tall right-hander has taken his licks since being promoted to the hitter-friendly International League, but earned the bump up with a strong run at the Double-A level to begin the season back with the Tampa Bay organization (2.05 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 87 2/3 innings).
Jordan Romano, RHP, returned to Blue Jays by Rangers (via White Sox): As it turns out, Romano got his first look at the majors the old-fashioned way, via mid-season call-up. That only lasted four appearances, but Romano is now on the Toronto 40-man. He has struggled to deliver consistent results, but does have 58 strikeouts in 39 1/3 total innings between the majors and Triple-A.
Nick Green, RHP, returned to Yankees by Diamondbacks: Green still hasn’t really found his footing since going back to the New York organization. After missing time with a shoulder injury, he has posted an ugly 7.91 ERA in 46 2/3 Double-A innings.
Drew Ferguson, OF, returned to Astros by Giants: Ferguson certainly earned his return trip to the Houston organization with a lowly showing in spring camp, but he has equally earned his keep since. Through 382 plate appearances at Triple-A, Ferguson is slashing .290/.398/.449 with nine long balls. If he’s not dealt or added to the 40-man roster over the offseason, he could again be a possible Rule 5 target.
Tigers made a strange move drafting Reed Garrett – there wasn’t much out there this year but they probably could have held on to someone like Connor Joe
They had the opportunity to get him when the giants dfa him but let him go. I watched 10 of those at bats in the beginning of the year for Connor Joe and he was completely overmatch. The same can be said in the field. I did notice early on he had a good eye drawing a walk, but right after that he started to chase
How about an article on Rule 5 eligibles for next year? Very curious who will be available
My guess is it would be a stupidly long list full of names no one has ever heard of
Which is pretty much every list of Rule 5 eligibles.
This.
Won’t know that until after the season when we see who is added to teams’ 40-man rosters
We won’t know until teams make their final 40-man roster moves before the deadline to protect players from R5 eligibility. Here’s how we covered that last time around: mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/deadline-to-set-40-man-…
For those interested in a truly deep dive on Rule 5, you definitely need to acquaint yourself with Baseball America. Start by following JJ Cooper on Twitter.
Will do. Thanks
a guy ive been watching for a while who is a curious name is Emerson Jimenez, the former Rox catcher turned Jays pitching prospect. he’s preformed well in A+ this year in his first full season as a pitcher.
id also add guys like Furgeson, Joe, and McWilliams are all good choices again if their teams dont add them to the 40 again thus year.
A lot of padres farm pieces
List is too long now and irrelevant until 40 man roster updates in early December after a lot of spots are vacated by players declaring free agency…
The Giants had high hopes for Ferguson and Joe but they bomber. Given what they have done in AAA, it’s hard to figure why they were so bad with the Giants. Maybe the pressure got to them.
Thinking the same thing. Joe. Ferguson. Gerber. All having Great AAA Seasons.
At least we know to a degree, Farhan wasn’t Too far off in his evaluations of all.
Majors Leagues is another story. These guys are all 27 at the height of what they can be. I still see a lot of shuffling happening in the near future in SF.
First Thing. Belt has to Go.
Even Bart is Going to start taking reps at First. It’s prime real estate. For a team that has and wants moving parts.
not like either got a real chance either though
I never thought about this but I thought even though it was 2018 when the draft occured it was still considered 2019.
Anyway Richie Martin has his moments he is really talented just really inconsistent
Richie Martin has looked a lot better recently. He looks more comfortable playing SS at the highest level and after some adjustments at the plate he’s making more contact and is continuing to raise his average.
I think it’s a bit harsh to say Richie Martin is one of the worst players in baseball. If nothing else his defense is and has been pretty good. Most teams would love to have a good defensive shortstop. Now I will say that the jury is still out, but more should be known during spring training next year and beyond.
It says right in the article that analytics peg him as a bad defensive shortstop.
Yeah, he has been panned by UZR and DRS. Though I would note: I don’t think metrics are definitive proof of past performance, let alone of ability (actual or projectable).
I’m not trying to rag on him. He’s in over his head, as are almost all R5 picks. Talent may well come through in the long run. But he has accrued the 2nd most negative fWAR in all of baseball.
Richie martin has never had anything to do with a bat. He has been terrible almost every year in the minors except 1 year at AA. He has had enough time to prove he should be up but has failed big time. That is why the A’s did not protect him they knew his bat would always be sub par.. Next year Martin will linger in AAA and be a emergency SS for the Os. In 2 years he will bounce around baseball. In 3 years out of baseball. I have seen so many like him that never can hit.
“One of the worst players in baseball” so basically he was saying he’s a perfect fit for the orioles.
Yeah…in a few years…that will all change…all in due time.
He will be out of baseball. 24 y o and still never hit above AA is not a good resume.
Does it make sense that they’ll run out the clock with Luciano and earn his rights, and then DFA him in the offseason? It seems pretty unlikely another team would be willing to keep him on the 40 man unless they just want to outright him right away as well
curious what happens to McWilliams after the season with TB’s ever-crowded roster. i thini any team in baseball with a roster spot would pick him if the season ended now.
Did you forget to add Nick Burdi of the Pirates?
he was grabbed in the 2017 rule 5 draft
I was going to mention him as well. He actually is a holdover from 2017. Was picked by the Phils then traded to the Pirates. Did not accrue enough time in the 2018 season to burn his Rule 5 designation. Started the season well this year but got hurt again before he could be on the 25 man roster long enough to end his Rule 5 status. Needs 90 days total and he still has less than that.
Burdi had a month last year and close to a month this year.
He shows a lot of talent.
I think that if he is healthy next year it would behoove the Pirates to keep him up long enough to option him if necessary.
He has closer stuff and could be a shutdown reliever.
Is there a player that was passed over in the draft that has had any success in mlb this year? I think allen, the catcher from the padres was a rule v guy. He hasnt been great, but he could have been someone’s backup catcher.
Austin Allen was protected from Rule 5 in the offseason. If we are talking last year, Franmil Reyes is a good example.
Is there anything in sports that is talked about so much and yet produces so little than the Rule 5 Draft? For every Johan Santana or Dan Uggla, there are about 100 quickly forgotten guys. It’s a nice idea and it’s kind of fun to imagine, but the reality is that very, very few of these guys do anything in the majors. And even the ones that are kept are usually quietly DFA’d within the next year or two.
98 times out of 100, there’s a reason they were available in the R5 draft to begin with
And it deserves to get talked about. For nothing else than the human element. You spent 43 days on a major league roster that guarantees you a 34K a year pension. For some kid from Venezuela who never got a real signing bonus and was blocked in his organization that’s huge. Not to mention the cash they get for whatever time spent on the big league roster.
And then you find your occasional Brad Keller’s or Odubel Herrera’s who post some productive seasons. If you aren’t good enough to be on one teams 40 man the odds are inherently against you to be good enough to be on another 25 man roster the entire season. That should be obvious.
When I watch the O’s, Richie Martin doesn’t look as bad as his numbers indicate. However, those poor numbers are hard to ignore.
Richie has looked bad as an o’s Fan. He’s played much better recently but yeah he’s been very bad. The numbers aren’t lying. Since he’s been moved to more of a part time role his numbers have improved a bit. But you know he was left off a 40 man roster for a reason. We don’t have a minor league SS who is even remotely close to the big leagues w more upside than Martin so I understand why we’re hanging onto him but he’s been lost for most of the season.
Going into next season we’re probably going to sign a Hech/Jordy Mercer type to compete with him there if not to start outright w no competition. I don’t have a ton of faith in Richie being more than a utility man but that’s about all you ought to expect out of a rule 5 draftee.
Tigers had victor Reyes last year and he was very bad. This year you can see some improvement and he could be a decent 4th outfielder. Hes only 24… I doubt he becomes a star, but he could last a while at the major league level.