The most recent Rule 5 Draft selections for each team who successfully remained on their respective rosters for an entire year are highlighted below.
While many players drafted in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft receive some big league playing time in the following season, it is a challenging feat to remain on the roster for a full year.
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST:
- Blue Jays: Elvis Luciano, RHP (2018)
- Luciano, picked at the age of 18 from the Kansas City system in 2018, pitched selectively for the Blue Jays but faced a premature end to his season due to a right elbow sprain in mid-June. Unfortunately, he has not played in the Majors since and remains unsigned as of November 2022.
- Orioles: Tyler Wells, RHP (2020)
- Acquired from the Twins in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, Wells became a reliable option in the Orioles’ bullpen, boasting a 5.4 K/BB ratio with 65 strikeouts and 12 walks over 57 innings. He transitioned into the rotation for the past two seasons, contributing to a 2.8 bWAR and making a postseason appearance in 2023.
- Rays: Kevin Kelly, RHP (2022)
- Former Guardians sidearmer Kevin Kelly played a crucial role in the Tampa Bay bullpen during his rookie season, leading full-time Rays relievers with 67 innings. He exhibited a 3.09 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a low 2.0 BB/9 rate, relying on a sinker and a mid-70s sweeper to keep hitters off-balance.
- Red Sox: Garrett Whitlock, RHP (2021)
- Snatched from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, Whitlock established himself as a key bullpen figure for the Red Sox. The 25-year-old righty recorded an impressive 1.96 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 17 walks over 73 1/3 innings, maintaining effectiveness in various roles over the last two seasons.
- Yankees: Billy Parker, INF/OF (1973)
- A rare Rule 5 Draft selection for the Yankees in 1973, Billy Parker, an infielder/outfielder, spent three years in their system without playing in New York. Notably, he was the last Negro Leaguer to play in the Majors and later became the parks and recreation director in Surprise, Arizona.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL:
- Guardians: Trevor Stephan, RHP (2021)
- Selected from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, Stephan contributed significantly to the Guardians’ bullpen, striking out 75 batters with a 4.41 ERA over 63 1/3 innings. He continued to pitch effectively in a relief role for Cleveland in the subsequent two seasons.
- Royals: Brad Keller, RHP; Burch Smith, RHP (2017)
- Brad Keller, acquired from the Reds in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft, emerged as one of the best Rule 5 success stories. Spending six seasons on the Royals’ staff, Keller posted a 4.27 ERA over 679 innings before entering free agency. Burch Smith, acquired from the Mets, stuck on the active roster in 2018 but was released after the season.
- Tigers: Mason Englert, RHP (2022)
- Englert, drafted from the Rangers organization, joined the Detroit bullpen and remained on the roster despite mixed results (5.46 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 41 strikeouts in 56 innings). Hindered by left hip tightness, he went on the injured list in late July and didn’t return to the Majors.
- Twins: J.R. Graham, RHP (2014)
- Drafted by the Twins from the Yankees in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, J.R. Graham, a former fourth-round pick of the Braves, appeared in 39 games for Minnesota in 2015, concluding the season with a 4.95 ERA. After dealing with arm issues, he was designated for assignment in May 2016 and eventually moved to the Yankees’ Minor League system.
- White Sox: Dylan Covey, RHP (2016)
- Selected by the White Sox in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft, Covey, a first-round pick by the Brewers in 2010, spent three seasons in and out of the White Sox rotation. He found success as a reliever with the Phillies in 2023, but his overall career has seen struggles, with a 7-32 record and a 6.18 ERA in 307 1/3 innings.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST:
- Angels: Deolis Guerra, RHP (2015)
- Guerra, a Rule 5 oddity, had prior big league experience with the Pirates before being selected by the Angels in 2015. He pitched well in 2016, accumulating a positive WAR (0.4) and a 3.21 ERA in 44 games. His subsequent years involved stints with various teams, including the Rangers, with appearances in the big leagues up until 2021.
- Astros: Josh Fields, RHP (2012)
- Originally a Mariners first-round pick in 2008, Fields spent three seasons with the Astros, compiling a 4.27 ERA as a reliever. He was traded to the Dodgers in 2016 in a deal that ultimately included Yordan Alvarez, the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year.
- A’s: Ryan Noda, 1B (2022)
- Noda not only stuck with the A’s after being picked in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft but also played regularly, finishing the year with nearly 500 plate appearances. Despite striking out 170 times, he offset it with 70 walks, resulting in a 2.3 bWAR, the second-highest among Rule 5 picks since Brad Keller in 2018.
- Mariners: Yohan Ramirez, RHP (2019)
- Ramirez, the only player taken in the Major League phase of the 2019 Draft to accumulate a positive WAR (0.5) with the selecting team (Mariners), showcased his skills as a hybrid starter/reliever for the Astros before moving to the bullpen full time. He continued his career with various teams, reaching over 100 big league appearances.
- Rangers: Carlos Tocci, OF (2017)
- A top prospect in the 2011 international class, Tocci signed with the Phillies but struggled in the Majors with the Rangers in 2018, hitting .225/.271/.283. He has not played in the Majors since.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST:
- Braves: Dan Winkler, RHP (2014)
- Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2014, the Braves selected Winkler in the Rule 5 Draft that year. He made his big league debut in September 2015, experiencing ups and downs in subsequent seasons.
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