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With a lack of a 2020 Minor League season, or even an Arizona Fall League, the general feeling ahead of Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft was the annual event that typically ends with the Winter Meetings would be relatively quiet.
Turns out, that feeling was wrong.
A total of 18 players were taken in the Major League phase, tying the 2016 and ‘17 Drafts for the most selections since 19 were taken back in 2010. The Minor League phase was extremely active, with 56 players taken. The total of 74 players selected was the most since 79 picks were made in the 2004 Rule 5 Draft. A total of 15 of the 18 players taken in the Major League phase were right-handed pitchers, while two outfielders and a shortstop were also selected.
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PITTSBURGH The Pirates acquired two interesting, potentially high-upside arms in the annual Rule 5 Draft on Thursday.
Pittsburgh used the first overall pick to select right-hander Jose Soriano from the Angels farm system. Soriano, 22, was the Halos No. 13 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and might have ranked higher if he hadn’t undergone Tommy John surgery in February. The Pirates also acquired right-hander Luis Oviedo, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from the Indians system, after he was selected ninth overall by the Mets. Pittsburgh sent New York cash considerations for Oviedo.
Soriano and Oviedo filled the two open spots on the Pirates’ 40-man roster. Whether they pan out or not, those two selections align well with the Pirates’ pursuit of high-upside young talent especially pitching under general manager Ben Cherington. This year, Cherington has acquired six pitchers who currently rank among the club’s Top 30 prospects: Brennan Malone (No. 7)
Dodgers 2020 Rule 5 Draft results | Los Angeles Dodgers mlb.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mlb.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Complete Rule 5 Draft results involving the Dodgers, who lost pitchers Brett de Geus and Jordan Sheffield in the major league phase. Los Angeles selected two players and lost six in the minor league phase of the draft.
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It turned out to be an active Rule 5 Draft after all. Topped by right-hander Jose Soriano, 18 players were chosen in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday equal to the number of selections in 2017 and 2016 and just shy of the 19
It turned out to be an active Rule 5 Draft after all.
Topped by right-hander
Jose Soriano, 18 players were chosen in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday equal to the number of selections in 2017 and 2016 and just shy of the 19 players picked in 2010.
Players taken as part of Thursday s process held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic must stick with their new clubs for the duration of the 2021 season (or at least 90 days on the active roster if they spend time on the injured list) or else be offered back to their original club. Rule 5 picks cost $100,000, and the players are offered back at $50,000 if they do not stick with their new team.