MLB Rule 5 Draft: 10 Names to Watch, Including Former Florida Star and a Clayton Kershaw Impersonator - CBS Sports

The 2025 MLB Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Wednesday

MLB IMP 5 Draft: 10 names including former Florida Star and Clooney Kelshott

The 2025 MLB Rule 5 Draft is set for Wednesday

The Major League Winter Meetings are here and that means it's time to focus on what really matters this season.No, no, not free agents and trade candidates.We're talking, of course, about the Rule 5 draft. This year's edition is held on Wednesday, the day after the MLB lottery.Unlike its amateur counterpart, the selection order for the 5 Draft is not determined by lottery or clauses that penalize repetition.Instead, the Colorado Rockies, owners of the worst record in 2025, will make the first pick, and the rest of the order will continue based on winning percentage.

The Rule 5 Draft is a mechanism that protects against hoarding of talent.Teams only have so many years to sign a player before they have to add them to the 40-man roster.Other teams may select eligible players who remain unprotected, but those players must remain on their new team's 26-man major league roster for the season.(There are injury exceptions and teams can always trade a player's rights.)

To get an idea of ​​what kind of players are in a typical Rule 5 draft class, consider the White Sox Piser Shane Smith (who came the second player in history to appear in the All-Star game in a draft year rule 5) and Marlins / Baseman's first Liam Hicks catcher of the field last year. Wy the most notable players in the crop this year?Here are 10 things to know before Wednesday's draft.

1. Jude Fabian, Orioles

Fabian is the most famous player on this list.He twice drafted the top two picks out of Florida, first gaining progressive experience in the following provinces: SOX SOX Wash.The book remains largely unchanged.Fabian is an error player (he throws lefties and smart mice) who offers power, patience and cetosik, but he prefers an honest cost.Why you're wondering why I want this game to be so far out of reach in Maman, a big part of the reason is that it doesn't even improve league average.But with Aexerander Tiexerenang having over 200 rebounds this season, it doesn’t seem impossible compared to others.Why was he chosen?No

2. Griffry Mcgafry, RHP, Philes

McGarry is a version of Fabian.There's an unknown talent here, but it's made great by an unreliable downfall.He spent much of last season in double-A, a step back from the year before, and all he needed about that performance was that he walked nearly 15% of the batters.McGarry has quality stuff, with heat that sits in the mid-90s and raw power, and he'll play a role that kills off a team's bullets.Will it be ideal?Probably

3. Blakekkalter, RHP, Braves

Burschalter is a complete referendum on returning from John Jay Tomomi surgery.He was sent off three seasons ago, so it's tempting to think about him as a pitcher without a run.To these eyes, this is a fair assessment.bend and attempt to divide or change.Burkhalter's delivery has long limited his team's projections (and he is actually in nine spots in 2025), but unlike the majority of the Wildcats, he does not lose a ton of power.Maybe the team looks at him as a utility guy who can contribute when needed.You can understand why the lights didn't protect him.Will he arrange it?Yes

4. Frank Matsykata, LHP, Royals

Mozzico commanded his stock in the 2021 Draft Cycle by throwing four consecutive no-hitters to end his prep career.He struck out 17 batters in the state championship game while recording three hits of his own.The Royals, who selected him 7th overall, were attracted by his feel for a quality curveball and his size (a young player's class).(Plus, his angular frame suggests he'll add muscle and speed over time).After four and a half years, Mozzicato failed to follow through on that promise.His tools were not heavy, as he lost 53 free passes in 56 doubles - a reach, and also did not have his command.Mozzicato is one of the more recognizable names on this list, but teams have little reason to entertain selecting him.Will he be elected?

5. Benny Montgomery, OF, Rockies

Montgomery, the player selected right after Mozzicato in the 2021 draft, is another household name that didn't fare well as a pro.He spent last season in Double-A, hitting .201/.274/.263 for a club that hit a combined .229/.313/.347.Montgomery has a huge hook in his swing and lets his arms out, dropping the helmet to chest level before picking it up again.So much of engineering analysis is driven by results: it works if it works and it doesn't work if it doesn't.You can guess the verdict here.He will not be selected either.Will it be selected?No

6. Matt Pushard, RHP, Marlins

Pushard celebrated his 28th birthday in October, making him the oldest player on this list: blame it on the fact that he didn't turn pro (as an undrafted free agent) until just before his 25th birthday.Pushard, a Maine native, could be on the verge of making his big league debut if he is selected this week.His arsenal includes a mid-90s fastball and several average-or-better breaking balls.It doesn't take much imagination to imagine him as a middleman.Will he be selected?YES

7. Josh Kasevich, INF, Blue Jays

Kasevich has played sparingly this season due to back problems.He continues to be an interesting prospect with his extreme rebounding skills and zone control.Kasevich doesn't offer much power (his career-high ISO, at any level and in any sample size, is an absurd .108) and there's no guarantee his game will translate well enough to mainstream markets.Any club looking to capitalize on the Blue Jays' magic could do worse than snatch him up and hope for the best.Will he be elected?NO

8. Hayden Mullins, LHP, Red Sox

Mullins is a small southpaw who started last season in a.He has a good arsenal, including a quick run that gives the ropes in the area.That helps explain why he was able to strike out more than 10 times in nine innings.Unfortunately, the mulls walked more than five of the nine innings, suggesting he may have been in relief.

9. Cameron Weston, RHP, Orioles

Weston is an infielder whose side-by-side arsenal has allowed him to get to both ends of the plate.(That means he's sometimes Easton.) He throws five or six different pitches, depending on your classification algorithm of choice: sinker, slider, sweeper, cutter, splitter, and changeup.Took more walks than usual on the season.In other words, he needs all the help he can get from his streak ability, but there's enough here for some teams to consider him as a possible utility arm with a fun gimmick.Will he be drafted?No

10. Wheel Dillon, LHP, Guardians

Dion is Spoyton Ceyton is the best hеsw in the world.Dodgers should have it for simple poems about the first triangle's first Tleevissi.He also giving up at least 20 characters of breaking his lower level, he will be to play over the speed before speed.The rest of his game is not being impossible, give it a better time before a reasonable opportunity to be eligible to choose as long as a long person or swwmane?No