The Best Rule 5 Draft Picks in MLB History
The deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft is Nov. 15. With that deadline, it’s a perfect time to look at some of the best Rule 5 draft picks in MLB history. Both past and present, we’ve seen stars be born.
Before we dive in, let’s give a quick explanation of what the Rule 5 draft is. Every team has a 40-man roster they must fill by Nov. 15. Those not on the 40-man are at risk of being taken in the Rule 5 draft. Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.
The catch is if a team drafts someone, that player has to stay on their major league roster the whole season. If not, the team that drafts them has to offer the player back to their original team. It’s often that these picks don’t pan out, but let’s see the ones who became stars.
Roberto Clemente
Baseball fans know the legend of Clemente. Many don’t know his journey and how he ended up on the Pirates, though. He was 19 years old when he was left unprotected by the Dodgers. The Pirates took a chance on him in the Rule 5 in 1954, and the rest is history.
R.A. Dickey
The story of Dickey is one of the most remarkable stories in baseball: a pitcher who was born without a UCL in his throwing elbow. It was amazing that he could even throw a baseball, let alone be a major league starter. But that infamous knuckleball propelled his career. The Seattle Mariners drafted in him the Rule 5 in 2007 at the age of 33. He was working on the knuckleball and landed with the Mets a few years later. He won the Cy Young in 2012 at the age of 37. Dickey saw the rebirth of his career after the draft, and he’ll be known as one of the greatest and most interesting players from Rule 5.
Shane Victorino
Before becoming “The Flyin’ Hawaiian”, Victorino was an unknown prospect taken in the Rule 5 Draft. The San Diego Padres nabbed him from the Dodgers but returned him after struggling in the minors. A few years later, the Philadelphia Phillies took Victorino in the Rule 5. From there, he evolved into an All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder who played an integral part in two World Series Championships.
Johan Santana
Originally signed by the Houston Astros, Santana was an international prospect trying to figure it out. After years in the minors, he just couldn’t get past Single-A. The Astros left him exposed for the Rule 5. Santana was taken by the Mariners, who immediately shipped him to the Twins. That’s where he saw his career completely flip, winning two Cy Young awards and throwing a no-hitter in his final season in 2012.
Jose Bautista
Bautista was a late bloomer. Most known for his time with the Blue Jays and the infamous bat flip, but he was getting thrown around the league before that. The Orioles took him as a Rule 5 selection, but quickly gave up on him and he bounced around teams. Then in 2010, at the age of 29, Bautista went to the Blue Jays and his name was remembered across baseball.
Josh Hamilton
Hamilton was one of the best hitters MLB had ever seen in his prime. But we unfortunately know his battles with drug addiction, and he was in and out of rehab with no clear future. He was given a second chance in 2006 when the Cincinnati Reds snagged him in the Rule 5 draft. He went to the Texas Rangers after that, becoming an MVP, five-time All-Star and hit 200 home runs.
Nestor Cortes Jr.
We’ll start looking at the current MLB players who have come from the Rule 5 draft. Cortes is actually on his third stint with the Yankees. The Orioles took him in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft but later sent him back to the Yankees. The Yankees then shipped him to the Mariners, but they gave up on Cortes after one season. The third time has been the charm, and Cortes emerged as a top rotation pitcher for the Yankees and became an All-Star and fan favorite.
Mark Canha
My favorite one out of the group, Canha is one of the best players to come from the Rule 5. The Rockies drafted him in the Rule 5 in 2014 and was traded to the Oakland A’s shortly after. In his rookie season, Canha led all AL rookies in RBIs with 70. He was a big contributor to the A’s playoff window, and he’s continuing to push his career upward.
Ryan Pressly
The All-Star closer for the Astros was another player whose career was jumpstarted by the Rule 5. The Twins took him in 2012 and they converted him from a starter to a reliever. It’s safe to say it worked, as Pressly has become one of the best closers in all of baseball and just won his first World Series in 2022.
The Rule 5 draft is extremely hard to find success. Banking on young prospects to be ready for the big leagues, many of which don’t pan out. But these players listed show hope, and we’ll see what players are in this year’s draft on Dec. 7.
SHOP for Vendetta Merch!
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube!
