Groups have till 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday to set their 40-man rosters and shield gamers from the Rule 5 Draft, which can be held on Dec. 6 on the Winter Conferences. We’re monitoring each group’s ranked prospects who’re Rule 5-eligible right here.
There are six High 100 Prospects who require safety, beginning with Rockies center infielder Adael Amador (No. 21), they usually’re all digital locks to hitch 40-man rosters earlier than the deadline. However lots of choices will not be practically that simple.
We determine a troublesome name for each group beneath. Usually we selected a ranked prospect, although in some situations we opted for a participant who stood out within the Arizona Fall League, which simply concluded its season.
Blue Jays: C.J. Van Eyk, RHP (unranked on Blue Jays High 30)
A 2020 second-round pick of Florida State, Van Eyk had Tommy John surgical procedure in September 2021, missed all of 2022 and labored simply 34 1/3 innings this summer time. However he confirmed among the finest curveballs within the AFL, the place he logged a 2.51 ERA and struck out three batters with three totally different pitches in an inning of labor within the Fall Stars Sport.
Orioles: Hudson Haskin, OF (No. 17)
The Orioles’ second-round choose in 2020, Haskin did attain Triple-A this previous season, but additionally performed in simply 33 video games due to first a hamstring damage after which a hip impingement that required surgical procedure. There are some instruments right here, with some energy and pace, however thus far he’s proven solely glimpses of that potential whereas struggling to remain wholesome. Given the Orioles system’s outfield depth, this might be a troublesome one.
Rays: Heriberto Hernandez, OF (No. 18)
Acquired from the Rangers as a part of the Nathaniel Lowe commerce in December 2020, Hernandez has among the greatest energy and exit velocities within the Rays system. However he additionally hit simply .249/.376/.411 with 13 homers as a 23-year-old in Double-A and does not provide a lot defensive worth.
Crimson Sox: Allan Castro, OF (No. 30)
A switch-hitter with good bat-to-ball abilities and a sound strategy on the plate, Castro signed for $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. Nonetheless simply 20, he is perhaps extra of a tweener than an everyday and hit .261/.368/.405 with 19 steals at two Class A stops, so the Crimson Sox most likely can sneak him by the Rule 5 Draft.
Yankees: Elijah Dunham, OF (No. 30)
Dunham rapidly turned a corporation favourite after signing as a nondrafted free agent in 2020 out of Indiana and was the Arizona Fall League’s breakout participant of the yr in 2021. He does not have a greater than common software, nevertheless, and batted .227/.330/.389 with 16 homers and 35 steals between Double-A and Triple-A.
Guardians: Dayan Frias, INF (No. 25)
Because of his fast arms, Frias is among the greatest and most versatile defenders within the Guardians’ system. Signed for $80,000 out of Colombia in 2018, he hit .260/.356/.426 with 11 homers in Excessive-A and might be left unprotected as a result of Cleveland has different infield prospects with greater offensive ceilings.
Royals: Devin Mann, INF/OF (No. 27)
A part of a bundle from the Dodgers for Ryan Yarbrough on the Commerce Deadline, Mann is 26 and does not have a standout software. On the flip aspect, he performed all 4 infield positions in addition to left area whereas batting .276/.387/.502 with 20 homers in Triple-A.
Tigers: Keider Montero, RHP (No. 26)
Montero went unselected within the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Rule 5 Drafts however is coming off the perfect season of the profession, main the Minors with 15 wins whereas compiling a 4.66 ERA with 160 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings and advancing to Triple-A. A $40,000 signal out of Venezuela in 2016, he operates with a 92-95 mph fastball, a high-spin curveball and a stable slider.
Twins: Austin Martin, 2B/OF (No. 20)
The No. 5 total choose of the 2020 Draft got here to the Twins within the large José Berríos deal on the 2022 Commerce Deadline. He nonetheless could make a ton of contact, draw walks and run, however makes an attempt to get him to drive the ball for additional bases with any consistency haven’t caught. An elbow damage shelved him in 2023 for some time and he did swing the bat just a little higher in Triple-A late within the yr (1.004 OPS in August), however the lack of impression makes this one a query mark.
White Sox: Matthew Thompson, RHP (No. 22)
The White Sox spent $7.1 million on highschool righties Thompson, Andrew Dalquist and Jared Kelley within the 2019 and 2020 Draft, and that funding has but to repay. A 2019 second-rounder from a Texas highschool, Thompson can flash a plus fastball and curveball however acquired tagged for a 4.85 ERA and led the Southern League with 85 walks whereas putting out 136 in 124 1/3 Double-A innings.
Angels: Jack Kochanowicz, RHP (No. 9)
The Angels went approach over slot to signal Kochanowicz out of the Pennsylvania highschool ranks in 2019, and it’s been pretty tough sledding since — by way of each his efficiency and well being. He throws strikes, although his command within the zone hasn’t been nice, main him to get hit. His dimension (6-foot-7) and uncooked stuff are nonetheless intriguing, however he actually struggled in Double-A and barely pitched in August and September.
Astros: Zach Daniels, OF (No. 19)
Daniels can present properly above-average uncooked energy and pace however has a historical past of swing-and-miss points that features a 31 % strikeout price in 2023. The 2020 fourth-rounder from Tennessee hit .277/.349/.462 with 13 homers and 22 steals in 84 video games, principally in Double-A.
A’s: JT Ginn, RHP (No. 18)
The Mets’ second-round choose of the 2020 Draft was despatched to the A’s within the Chris Bassitt commerce of 2022 and he’s continued to have bother staying wholesome. A forearm pressure restricted him to 12 outings in 2022 (although he threw properly within the Arizona Fall League that fall), then he threw solely 26 2/3 innings in 2023 as he handled biceps tendinitis. He has the stuff to begin, although his sinker-slider mixture might be an interesting bullpen asset for groups concerned with nabbing him.
Mariners: Zach DeLoach, OF (No. 25)
The M’s second-rounder in 2020, DeLoach continued to attract a ton of walks (13.3 % BB price) and strikeouts (27.8 %). However he did hit 30 doubles and 23 homers in Triple-A this previous season and has seen time in all three outfield positions, so the 25-year-old’s mixture of energy, endurance and positional flexibility may put him in line for a giant league bench position someplace.
Rangers: Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHP (unranked)
Hoopii-Tuionetoa has blossomed from 2019 Thirtieth-round pick of Pierce (Wash.) CC to a reliever with a mid-90s fastball and a tough slider. After lacking the primary half of the season because of damage, he was one of many higher bullpen performers within the AFL, putting out 10 in 9 2/3 scoreless innings.
Braves: Tyler Owens, RHP (No. 27)
The Braves signed Owens by going properly over slot in Spherical 13 of the 2019 Draft, however then he didn’t pitch in 2020 due to the pandemic and missed a lot of the 2021 season because of arm bother. His energy repertoire has proven glimpses of being efficient in aid and as a starter and he reached Double-A in 2023. As an undersized right-hander with a fastball that touches 98 mph in shorter stints to associate with a tough slider, he may draw curiosity from groups open to conserving him within the ‘pen and seeing how that mixture performs within the large leagues.
Marlins: Will Banfield, C (No. 28)
Banfield landed a $1.8 million bonus as a supplemental second-rounder out of a Georgia highschool as a result of scouts regarded him because the catcher with the best defensive ceiling within the 2018 Draft. He nonetheless has a plus-plus arm and strikes properly behind the plate, however his bat stays a query even after he hit .258/.302/.472 with 23 homers in Double-A.
Mets: Justin Jarvis, RHP (No. 15)
Initially drafted by the Brewers in 2018 out of the North Carolina highschool ranks, Jarvis was discovering some constant success in Double-A in 2023 and acquired bumped as much as Triple-A earlier than being despatched to the Mets for Mark Canha, and he didn’t throw significantly properly with Syracuse post-trade. However he has a four-pitch combine and might be a back-end starter able to consuming innings.
Phillies: Oliver Dunn, INF (Unranked)
The Phillies acquired Dunn from the Yankees within the Minor League part of final yr’s Rule 5 Draft, and he turned in a stable yr in hitting-friendly Studying, with a .902 OPS, albeit he was a contact previous for the Double-A Japanese League. He then took benefit of an invite to the AFL, hitting .343/.455/.616 with 12 steals in 19 video games. He’s additionally proven a willingness to play second, third and a nook outfield spot, maybe making the 26-year-old a possible utilityman kind on the highest stage.
Verdict: Traded to the Brewers and added to Milwaukee’s 40-man roster
Nationals: Kevin Made, SS (No. 15)
Although the Nationals simply acquired Constituted of the Cubs in July as a part of the Jeimer Candelario deal, they may attempt to save a roster spot as a result of he is so uncooked on the plate and has but to advance previous Excessive-A. He has properly above-average arm energy and performs a top quality shortstop, however he batted simply .218/.307/.319 in Excessive-A throughout his age-20 season.
Reds: Rece Hinds, OF (No. 10)
Hinds has had a power-over-hit profile for the reason that Reds went over slot to signal him within the second spherical of the 2019 Draft, and he needed to cope with a number of accidents that saved him from getting wanted reps. Comparatively wholesome in 2023, the outfielder confirmed the facility may play, with 23 homers in Double-A (.536 SLG) to associate with 20 steals. His 151/34 Ok/BB ratio factors to him maybe not being prepared for the large leagues, however the Reds must determine to roll the cube that one other staff gained’t attempt to let that pop play in 2024.
Brewers: Freddy Zamora, SS (No. 26)
Zamora was harm (torn ACL) when the Brewers took him within the second spherical of the 2020 Draft, then a shoulder damage in 2022 restricted him to simply 24 video games. He does make contact and limits strikeouts whereas drawing some walks, however there’s concern about impression. However he can actually defend at a premium place and he began mixing in some second base in 2023, so a staff may have a look at the glove and phone abilities and assume he deserves a shot at a utility position.
Pirates: Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (No. 12)
It was a better resolution for the Pirates to not shield Ashcraft a yr in the past as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure had knocked out his 2022 season. However the 2018 second-rounder got here again this previous season and whereas he was on a brief leash, he threw properly (2.39 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) over 52 2/3 innings whereas reaching Double-A. There’s ceiling right here as a starter with a fastball that has good life and two distinct breaking pitches, and the chance is a staff would take an opportunity and let that stuff play in a giant league bullpen if the Pirates don’t shield him.
Cardinals: Adam Kloffenstein, RHP (No. 17)
The Cardinals thought extremely sufficient of the 2018 third-round choose of the Blue Jays to get him within the deal for Jordan Hicks on the Commerce Deadline this previous season. He’s coming off his greatest total marketing campaign (3.16 ERA, .228 BAA), together with pitching properly at Triple-A post-trade. That comes after two fairly tough seasons within the Blue Jays’ system, but when the Playing cards assume that what they noticed is for actual, this is probably not that robust of a call.
Cubs: Kohl Franklin, RHP (No. 28)
Franklin turned one of many Cubs’ high pitching prospects quickly after signing for third-round cash ($450,000) as a sixth-round choose from an Oklahoma highschool in 2018, however accidents and management points have delayed his improvement. The nephew of former All-Star nearer Ryan Franklin, he nonetheless can attain 97 mph together with his fastball and miss bats with three secondary pitches however posted a 5.99 ERA in Double-A this season following a robust begin in Excessive-A.
Dodgers: Hunter Feduccia, C (No. 29)
The Dodgers worth Feduccia’s blocking and receiving capacity however could have an excessive amount of expertise to guard a 26-year-old catcher who will not be greater than a backup. A Twelfth-round choose from Louisiana State in 2018, he hit .279/.387/.451 with 11 homers in 90 Triple-A video games.
Giants: Jairo Pomares, OF (No. 17)
Pomares possesses one of many extra attention-grabbing bats within the Giants’ system however has gone from hitting .334/.378/.629 in 2021 to slashing .266/.339/.476 final yr to taking part in simply 9 video games this summer time due to a extreme quad pressure. Signed for $975,000 in 2018 after leaving Cuba, he is a bat-first participant who’ll most likely wind up in left area.
Rockies: Juan Mejia, RHP (Unranked)
Energy-armed relievers will at all times get lengthy appears to be like within the Rule 5 Draft, and Mejia could have put himself within the Rockies’ 40-man dialog, in addition to the Rule 5 dialogue with 29 different groups, following his sturdy AFL efficiency. He’s at all times missed bats (10.8 Ok/9), and he struck out 13.2 per 9 in 2023, then whiffed 16 in 8 2/3 IP this fall displaying off an electrical fastball (as much as 98 mph) and slider. Command is the large challenge (4.3 BB/9 in his profession), and he walked 9 within the AFL, making this lower than a slam dunk.
Padres: Brandon Valenzuela, C (No. 9)
Signed again in 2017, Valenzuela went unprotected within the San Diego system in 2021 or 2022 as a result of he was so removed from the large leagues. After he reached Double-A in 2023, is that this the yr? He didn’t hit there (.542 OPS in 27 video games) and missed the final month of the season. He’s a affected person switch-hitter and might actually catch and throw, nevertheless it stays to be seen if the Padres assume they will maintain off another yr, with the historical past of Rule 5 catchers working of their favor.
D-backs: Kristian Robinson, OF (No. 11)
Authorized points stemming from an April 2020 incident saved Robinson from taking part in in official competitors for practically 4 seasons, however he made a powerful return in 2023 over 65 video games, reaching Double-A for the primary time. A one-time High 100 prospect, Robinson hit 14 homers and swiped 23 bases throughout this final season. The instruments level to him being worthy of a 40-man spot, however may his missed time and strikeout price (31.6 % in 2023) make Arizona assume it may well wait a yr?