Getty Images I got all excited last year and went to the Rule 5 draft. Within three minutes of it starting I realized that it really wasn’t worth it. If you’re a total prospect nut it has a lot of intrigue I suppose, but for most of us it’s only meaningful a couple of years from now if and when anyone in it actually turns into a useful major leaguer.
And it doesn’t happen much. The reason some of us are so able to list of Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton and Dan Uggla as Rule 5 successes is really a function of just how rare such successes there are. The same names have stuck out on that list for a long time now.
All of that said, if you are interested in the Rule 5, a good place to start reading would be John Manuel’s two-part draft preview at Baseball America.
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- kcfanatic - Dec 8, 2011 at 9:57 AM
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If memory serves right, Joakim Soria was a rule 5 that saw action his first year.
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- sportsdrenched.com - Dec 8, 2011 at 10:11 AM
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Correct. Royals Rule 5 Pick from last year, Nate Adcock was decent in the BP last year too.
Royals Fans love the Rule 5 draft.
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- drmonkeyarmy - Dec 8, 2011 at 9:58 AM
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Shane Victorino (who rumor has it is Hawaiian) was twice selected in the Rule 5 draft.
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- quizguy66 - Dec 8, 2011 at 10:50 AM
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Chris Berman always ruins my Rule 5 Draft viewing by spoiling the picks right before they are about to get announced.
-QG
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- natstowngreg - Dec 8, 2011 at 12:47 PM
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You failed to mention the most successful Rule 5 pick ever — Roberto Clemente (selected by Pirates from Dodgers, 1954).
And BTW, George Bell (Jays from Phillies, 1980).
