In a surprising turn, pitchers took the spotlight in the Rule 5 draft, with 11 out of 15 players selected being hurlers.
The Chicago White Sox, who had a rough season with 121 losses, kicked things off by grabbing Shane Smith, a 24-year-old righty from the Brewers. He’s a big guy at 6-foot-4 and has been doing great in the minors with a solid ERA.
Atlanta made a splash too, picking two players after being quiet for years. They snagged Anderson Pilar from the Marlins and infielder Christian Cairo from the Guardians. Pilar has been around the block, pitching in over 200 minor league games.
Teams had to cough up $100,000 to take a player, and they need to keep them on the big league roster all season. If not, they can be offered back for $50,000. Last year, six out of ten players picked stuck around, so it’s a bit of a gamble.
Minnesota also made a smart move, taking Eiberson Castellano, who’s been tearing it up in the minors. The Phillies got Mike Vasil with their last pick, rounding out a busy day.
Oh, and two position players were picked from the Tigers, with Miami and the Cubs making those selections. It’s always interesting to see how these drafts shake out!