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MILWAUKEE -- In 1982, Ned Yost slugged the biggest home run by a backup in Brewers history. Ten days later, another backup, Mark Brouhard, started and delivered three hits to help the Brewers to their only World Series to date.
How did both players wind up in Milwaukee? Via the Rule 5 Draft.
The annual event, staged in recent years on the final day of baseball’s Winter Meetings, offers opportunity for Minor Leaguers on the cusp of the big leagues. If left unprotected by their clubs -- nowadays, a player must be added to the 40-man roster after four seasons if he signed at 19 or older, or after five seasons if he signed at 18 or younger -- such players can be selected for a $100,000 fee and essentially must stick in the Major Leagues for the entire following season or be offered back for half of the original fee.