Padres add two prospects in Triple-A phase of Rule 5 draft [The San Diego Union-Tribune]
General Manager A.J. Preller’s 2020 trades cost the Padres some of the organizational depth at catcher and in the outfield. He used the Triple-A portion of Thursday’s Rule 5 draft to continue replenishing those areas.
After neither selecting nor losing anyone in the major league phase, the Padres added catcher Yorman Rodriguez and outfielder Brett Ruta to their minor league system.
The 23-year-old Rodriguez was plucked out of the Blue Jays system and added to Triple-A El Paso’s roster. He signed in July 2014 out of Venezuela and hit .360/.387/.502 with five homers, 40 RBIs and four steals in 62 games in the low minors in 2019. He is a high-contact hitter who can also play first base.