Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Rule 5 Draft Selections With Analysis

Major League Phase
First Round
1. Nationals	Terrell Young, rhp, Reds
Skinny: Mississippi prep product always has had arm strength, but improved control and changeup in ’08.
2. Mariners	Reegie Corona, ss/2b, Yankees
Skinny: Versatile middle infielder has defensive ability to stick; contact hitter has little power but runs well, walks.
3. Padres	Everth Cabrera, ss/2b, Rockies
Skinny: Squeezed off Rockies’ full 40-man, Cabrera has plus speed and plays a fine shortstop but hasn’t played above Sally League.
4. Pirates	Donald Veal, lhp, Cubs
Skinny: Once a top prospect, Veal had rough year but peaked at 94 mph with sink on fastball; mechanical issues leave control, breaking ball short.
*5. Orioles	Lou Palmisano, c, Brewers
Skinny: Third-round pick out of JC in 2003, he missed most of 2008 with knee injury; had best offensive season in ’07 at Double-A Huntsville.
6. Giants	Luis Perdomo, rhp, Cardinals
Skinny: Small-bodied righty has quick arm and fastball that reaches 94, complemented by short, sharp slider.
7. Braves	Pass
&8. Reds	David Patton, rhp, Rockies
Skinny: Aggressive with hard curveball in 82-85 mph range, tick-above-average fastball that has touched 94; 10.6 K/9 in Cal League.
9. Tigers	Kyle Bloom, lhp, Pirates
Skinny: Three-pitch 25-year-old, improved delivery led to velo jump (up to 92) late at Double-A; dominated in HWB.
10. Rockies	Pass
^11. Royals	Jose Lugo, lhp, Twins
Skinny: Still learning control (and won’t have command), but has plus-plus fastball with 91-95 mph velo, excellent sink.
12. Athletics	Ben Copeland, of, Giants
Skinny: Was Giants’ top draft pick in 2005 (as fourth-rounder); solid tools and patience, hit tool is best asset, fourth OF profile.
13. Rangers	Pass
14. Indians	Pass
15. Diamondbacks	James Skelton, c, Tigers
Skinny: Lefthanded-hitting catcher with smallish frame, plus arm and good plate discipline who has career .416 OBP in minors.
16. Dodgers	Pass
17. Marlins	Zack Kroenke, lhp, Yankees
Skinny: Lefty reliever has pie-throwing delivery that hinders command, but can run fastball up to 93 and has solid slider; more effective vs. RH hitters in ’08.
18. Cardinals	Pass
19. Blue Jays	Pass
20. Astros	Gil de la Vara, lhp, Royals
Skinny: Teammate of Veal at Pima (Ariz.) JC; 87-89 mph fastball complements good curve and improved changeup.
21. Twins	Jason Jones, rhp, Yankees
Skinny: Big-bodied 26-year-old throws four pitches for strikes and competes; fringy fastball augmented by cutter, split-finger pitch.
22. White Sox	Pass
23. Mets	Darren O’Day, rhp, Angels
Skinny: Sidearming former Florida closer sinks it, slides it; nondrafted free agent reached majors in ’08, posted 4.57 ERA in 43.1 IP.
24. Yankees	Pass
25. Brewers	Eduardo Morlan, rhp, Rays
Skinny: Former Twins farmhand struggled with Rays as velo fell; back up at high as 92 mph in Puerto Rican League this winter, showed 95 in the past.
26. Phillies	Bobby Mosebach, rhp, Angels
Skinny: Former Florida juco product uses sinker-slider combination to coax 2.04 groundout/airout ratio in Double-A Texas League; allowed just six home runs.
27. Red Sox	Miguel Gonzales, rhp, Angels
Skinny: Missed 2008 with injury, but thriving in Mexican Pacific League at 3-1, 0.99 this winter with 32-8 K-BB ratio in 35 IP.
28. Rays	Derek Rodriguez, rhp, White Sox
Skinny: Sidearming reliever uses fastball-split combo to handle lefthanded hitters (.648 OPS) as well as righties (.591).
29. Cubs	Pass
30. Angels	Pass
* Traded to Astros ^ Traded to Mariners &Traded to Cubs
Second Round
1. Padres	Ivan Nova, rhp, Yankees
Skinny: Tall 21-year-old has flashed three plus pitches at times but lacks consistency and deception; hit hard in FSL (.294 opponents average).
2. Mets	Rocky Cherry, rhp, Orioles
Skinny: Oklahoma product, 29, already has 48 innings of big league time; 6-foot-5 power righthander throws up to 95 mph with hard slider at his best.

Triple-A Phase
First Round
1. Nationals	Ricardo Nanita, of (White Sox)
2. Mariners	Pat Ryan, rhp (Brewers)
3. Padres	Pass
4. Pirates	Andres Santos, lhp (Yankees)
5. Orioles	Roberto Valido, ss (White Sox)
6. Giants	Matt Yourkin, lhp (Marlins)
7. Braves	Pass
8. Reds	Francisco Lizarraga, ss (Dodgers)
9. Tigers	Pass
10. Rockies	Pass
11. Royals	Luis Ortega, rhp (Nationals)
12. Athletics	Yusef Carter, of (Cubs)
13. Rangers	Elio Sarmiento, c (Giants)
14. Indians	Pass
15. Diamondbacks	Pass
16. Dodgers	Anthony Hatch, 3b (Blue Jays)
17. Marlins	Ryan Klosterman, ss (Blue Jays)
18. Cardinals	Russell Haltiwanger, rhp (Royals)
19. Blue Jays	Cody Haerther, 1b/of (Cardinals)
20. Astros	Drew Locke, of/1b (Dodgers)
21. Twins	Henry Arias, rhp (Reds)
22. White Sox	Pass
23. Mets	Carl Loadenthal, of (Braves)
24. Yankees	Pass
25. Brewers	Mark Holliman, rhp (Cubs)
26. Phillies	Kyle Haines, 2b (Giants)
27. Red Sox	Jason Rice, rhp (White Sox)
28. Rays	Pass
29. Cubs	Pass
30. Angels	Pass
Second Round
4. Pirates	Rafael Quintero, if (Indians)
5. Orioles	Josh Perrault, rhp (Nationals)
11. Royals	John Suomi, c (Phillies)
12. Athletics	Josue Selenes, rhp (Yankees)
13. Rangers	Guider Rodriguez, ss (Brewers)
17. Marlins	Brett Harker, rhp (Phillies)
19. Blue Jays	David Shinskie, rhp (Twins)
23. Mets	John Madden, rhp (Padres)
25. Brewers	Jonny Ash, 2b (Astros)
26. Phillies	Javis Diaz, of (Padres)
27. Red Sox	Miguel Marquez, rhp (Mariners)
Third Round
Pirates	Gerardo Esparza, rhp (Mariners)
Royals	Carlos Arias, rhp (Indians)
Marlins	Ron Hill, rhp (Phillies)
Brewers	Shane Justis, ss (Dodgers)
Fourth Round
Brewers	Juan Sanchez, ss (Twins)

Double-A Phase
Orioles	Andrew Barb, rhp, (Mariners)

Going in, I thought there was a long shot of St. Louis taking Mike MacDougal from the White Sox: 49IP, 48H, 29BB, 65K, he has bounced back at the age of 31.

The Cardinals pick of Russell Haltiwanger in the Triple-A phase has to be 100% in-person scouting, because there is nothing in his statistics to suggest it is worth the risk bumping him from A+ level to AAA level.

On the other end, the Cardinals lose Perdomo to the Giants (traded Anthony Reyes for) It means St. Louis got Rule 5 cash for Anthony Reyes. Also, the Cardinals lose Cody Haerther again to the Blue Jays.

For a club who took Brian Barton in the major-league phase of Rule 5 last season, this Rule 5 is disappointing if it is possible to have a disappointing Rule 5 draft.

Posted by Michael Scriven | December 11, 2008 at 3:29 pm | Shortcut

There is no requirement that players selected in the AAA and AA phases of the draft be placed at a particular level in the organization, so Haltiwanger can play anywhere next season.

Posted by Mike Emeigh | December 11, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Shortcut

Despite the lack of “buzz” before the Rule 5, teams always manage to find some players they want to look at, and they aren’t always the ones BA expects. You got Veal and Morlan right. When I looked over the list, Lou Palmisano’s name jumped out. But mostly they’re surprises, and we don’t know which ones will succeed. Josh Hamilton was a big name, but who had ever heard of Joakim Soria?

From the Triple-A list, I’ll be interested to see the progress of Nanita, Valido, and Haerther.

Posted by Edgar Shawen | December 11, 2008 at 5:12 pm | Shortcut

Can someone tell me whatz the buzz with Corey Wimberly in the Rockies Organization wasn’t put on the 40 man Rosters and didn’t get picked in the Rule 5 draft this guy being knowing for putting up numbers every year can someone please let me know whats the issue this kid continues to put up numbers at every level……

Posted by Derrell | December 11, 2008 at 6:47 pm | Shortcut

Mike MacDougal went unclaimed on waivers and in this draft because of his contract.
Wimberly, among other concerns, is inconsistent defensively.

Posted by Petey Pablo | December 11, 2008 at 9:06 pm | Shortcut

Looks like the Nationals got a good young arm.

The Yankees have to be happy, even though they lost 3 guys, that neither Alan Horne nor J.B. Cox was taken.

Boy, that AA round was exciting, eh?

Posted by Timmer | December 12, 2008 at 9:14 am | Shortcut