Pitchers were the main focus in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, making up 11 of the 15 unprotected players selected on Wednesday.
The Chicago White Sox, who had the first pick after a 121-loss season, chose 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers. Smith, who was signed by Milwaukee in 2021 as an undrafted free agent from Wake Forest, has posted a 13-7 record with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 157 innings over three minor league seasons.
A total of 14 teams made picks in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft, which includes players left off 40-man rosters after spending several years in the minor leagues. Atlanta made two picks, its first since 2017. The Braves selected right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick.
Pilar, 26, was originally signed by Colorado in 2015 as a minor league free agent and has pitched in 213 minor league games, including 17 starts. He has a 28-20 record with a 2.86 ERA.
Teams must pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league portion of the draft. These players must remain on the big league roster for the entire season or pass through waivers and be returned to their original team for $50,000.
Last year, six of the 10 players selected in the Rule 5 draft — five of them right-handed pitchers — stayed with the teams that picked them.
Right-hander Eiberson Castellano, the minor league pitcher of the year for the Philadelphia Phillies, was selected by Minnesota with the ninth pick. The 23-year-old split the season between High-A and Double-A, going 6-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 103 2/3 innings, striking out 136 and walking 29.
Philadelphia also made a selection with the 14th pick, taking right-hander Mike Vasil from the New York Mets organization.
Two position players were chosen by other teams, both from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Hicks was selected by Miami with the second pick after Colorado passed, and Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick.
