Rule 5 Draft: Four Phillies prospects need to be protected before November 15th
The Rule 5 Draft takes place on December 9th, and Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies organization have four prospects that will need to be decided on before November 15th, the 40-man roster deadline.
What is the Rule 5 Draft?
Per MLB.com: “Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn’t stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.”
Full list of MLB Prospects who need to be protected >>
Four Phillies Prospects Eligible for Rule 5 Draft
- Johan Rojas, OF (No. 5)
- Erik Miller, LHP (No. 7)
- McKinley Moore, RHP (No. 24)
- Alexeis Azuaje, INF (No. 27)
The two prospects the Phillies will most certainly be focused on are Johan Rojas and Erik Miller. Rojas, the 5th ranked prospect in the Phillies organization, played in High-A and Double-A in 2022, slashing .260/.333/.387 with 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, and 61 hits in 60 games.
Rojas has been lighting up the Arizona Fall League, hitting .310/.423/.452 in 12 total games. His ten runs scored, 13 hits, four doubles, and one triple have also helped punch his ticket to the AFL Fall Stars Game.
Erik Miller, the 24-year-old 7th-ranked prospect, played with both Reading and Lehigh Valley this past season. Miller tallied a 2.23 ERA in 36.1 Double-A innings but got roughed up in Triple-A, surrendering a 7.50 ERA.
The final two players that will soon be unprotected are McKinley Moore and Alexeis Azuaje. Moore tallied a 4.35 ERA with Reading in 2022, while Azuaje hit just .285 with Clearwater.
Notable Past Phillies Selected in Rule 5 Draft
- Shane Victorino
- Odubel Herrera
- Dave Hollins
More on the Phillies Offseason
- Phillies 2023 Offseason Guide >>
- Phillies Pitching: Notable Free Agents, Options, and Players to Watch >>
- Phillies 2023 Guaranteed Contracts >>
- Phillies Pick Up Aaron Nola’s 2023 Option >>
- Zach Eflin Declines 2023 Option >>
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