DALLAS – Draft Rule 5 was the unofficial final act of the annual Winter Meeting. This year’s edition will take place on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET and, as usual, there will be no shortage of players who will have a chance to make Open Day rosters in the spring.
Any player who turned professional at age 18 or younger in 2020 or at age 19 or older in 2021 is eligible to be selected for the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft if not in the 40th -personnel. Clubs that sign a player at this stage must pay his former team $100,000 and keep him on the lively substantial league roster through next season. A player cannot be sent to the minors without first agreeing to a waiver and then being offered a return to his original organization for half his draft price.
Below is a list of intriguing players eligible under these rules who may have heard their names called during the Major League Phase, listed in alphabetical order. As events unfold in Dallas, this will be updated as buzz around the lobby grows. Where warranted, the player’s ranking in the top 30 for his current team is given in parentheses.
Jose Acuna, RHP, Reds: A flexor muscle strain confined him to just 39 innings during the regular season, but he managed to return to the field in the Arizona Fall League, throwing 11.1 innings per nine innings. He can accelerate the fastball to 150 km/h and can be used on shorter outings in relief, which he proves with his slider and changeup.
Cooper Bowman, 2B/OF, A (No. 20): In the two full seasons since joining Frankie Montas from the Yankees in 2022, Bowman has totaled 20 homers and 81 steals while reaching Triple A. His speed is an asset and he has shown the ability to play second base and now center as well defense.
Lazaro Estrada, RHP, Blue Jays: In the first year of his full-time career, Estrada reached Double-A for the first time and found success there. His career rate is 10.9 K/9, good for 9.5 per nine in the Eastern League. He marked this up with a 14.7 K/9 in the AFL, with a particularly effective slider (52% miss rate). Teams will love his metrics.
Christian Franklin, OF, Cubs (No. 21): Franklin, a great athlete who missed his entire first professional season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, has extra strength (though he hits the ball too difficult on the ground), solid game speed and great arm strength. This year he’s hitting .268/.398/.366 with five goals scored and 34 steals, which could provide some versatility as he plays all three outfield positions well.
Yujanyer Herrera, RHP, Rockies (No. 29): Spending most of the year in High-A with the Brewers and then the Rockies after the Nick Mears deal, he surpassed the century mark in innings for the first time as a starter. He has a solid three-pitch lineup, potential as a future starter, and can hit, but the team that takes him will likely cut him low and see if there’s an enhance in speed in a reliever role.
Liam Hicks, C, Tigers: The Tigers just acquired Hicks, along with righty Tyler Owens, from the Rangers at last year’s Trade Deadline, but chose not to protect him. Teams can look for reserve options in the league under Rule 5, and Hicks has very solid starting skills.
Bryan Magdaleno, LHP, Rangers: Magdaleno moved from Single-A to Double-A and finished with a 1.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 42 2/3 IP. He was one of the top hitters in the minors with a .132 BAA, using a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider from a low, wide arm.
Kala’i Rosario, OF, Twins (No. 19): While his profile may be a little more hard to maintain in the substantial leagues at this point because he plays exclusively as an outfielder, his power potential could intrigue teams. In 2023, when hearty, he was the Midwest League MVP and scored 21 goals. He also swung the bat well in the Arizona Fall League after returning from an elbow injury.
Sammy Siani, OF, Pirates: He hasn’t had much success here, but a team change took him from High-A Greensboro to Double-A for the first time. If the team takes him, it will be based on his fall league numbers (.375/.457/.550) and the fact that he runs well and can play all three outfield positions.
AJ Vukovich, OF, defensemen D: There may be too many misses here, but Vukovich already has some run-producing experience, with 24 homers and 96 RBIs in Double-A in 2023, followed by 17 homers in Double-A and triple-A for the first time while playing at all three outfield positions in 2024.
Ryan Webb, LHP, Guardians (No. 26): Webb led the AFL in strikeouts in 2023 and had a solid 2.80 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 141 1/3 innings in the upper echelons of Cleveland’s system last year. It’s not a substantial fastball, averaging 91 mph, but his slider, changeup and curve are effective.
