Draft Rule 5:
Ahead of this year’s deadline to add Rule 5 players to the 40-man roster and protect them from possible selection, the Washington Nationals added only pitchers the club thought could be lost in the draft. .
“Players signed under the age of 18 must be added to a club’s 40-man roster within five seasons or become subject to the Rule 5 Draft.” As noted by MLB.comand both “… players signed at age 19 or older must be protected for no more than four seasons.”
Back in mid-November, the Nationals added right-handed pitchers Zach Budziksi and Cole Henry and left-handed pitchers DJ Hurts and Mitchell Parker to the 40-man roster.
“They thought they could pitch in the big leagues with some team, so we held them back,” GM Mike Rizzo told reporters before the Rule 5 Draft on the final day of winter meetings earlier this month. I wanted to,” he said.
“I think all of them can pitch in the big leagues.
“I think they’re all going to play in the big leagues at some point in their careers. We felt like if we didn’t protect them, we would have lost them.”
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The Nats did not lose any prospects in this year’s Rule 5 Draft (neither major league nor minor league level), and Rizzo said after the game that he believes they made the right decision in choosing which prospects to keep. Told.
“I’m happy that we were able to retain all the players that we brought in,” he said.
Rizzo and others in the Nationals’ front office have made the decision to select a player from the Miami Marlins’ system, replacing the infielder as a defense-first shortstop who (for now) must remain on the major league roster all season. They acquired Nassim Nuñez. In 2024.
“I look at him as a shortstop, and that’s where his value is,” Rizzo said. “He also has the athleticism to play anywhere on the field, but he has a bright future at shortstop and that’s where we see his future.”
“The scouts have him at that elite level,” the GM added. “He’s got great feet, great distance, great arms, great athleticism, things like that, good speed and a quick first step, all the things a good middle infielder has.”
Why do they think he can stay in the big leagues all season?
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Rizzo admitted.But I think with the coaching staff we have now and the reps he gets outside of game time, I think there’s time – we can really iron out some mechanical issues, He could really go to the weight room and improve his strength and flexibility and I think he gave it [Manager Davey Martinez] Off-the-bench options: Defensive replacement, elite defensive skills, base runner, stealer, and player who can help win games at the major league level. ”
“He’s a great kid who’s willing to learn,” Martinez said when asked how he would deal with the 23-year-old prospect.
“[He’s] Willingness to make adjustments. We think at some point in the future he’ll learn to hit a little bit more. We are definitely going to work with him.I’m going to talk to [Hitting Coach] We’ll get Darnell in the next few days and we’ll make plans for him…but like I said, we love this player and what he can do, so we’re really looking forward to it. ”
no. 10 Recommendations for 2024:
![MLB: San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JmbCnzCF7UR-Q4eByBT4DgBGA-U=/0x0:3428x2286/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3428x2286):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25187893/usa_today_21069180.jpg)
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The Nationals were listed as potential No. 1 overall picks in 2023. MLB drafthowever, finished second in the draft lottery and selected outfielder Dylan Cruz, the consensus best position player in the draft.
This time, As pointed out by MLB.com beat writer Jessica Camerato:“… [the] The Nationals entered the draft lottery with the fifth-worst record in baseball (71-91)… [but] They are [were] Due to the rule that “payer clubs”, which are categorized as clubs giving and receiving revenue sharing, cannot be selected in consecutive draws, they will not be eligible to pick higher than 10th place in 2024. ”
Were you disappointed that they finished with the results they achieved and ended up being drafted 10th?
“For me, these are the rules and I’m just going to follow them,” GM Mike Rizzo told reporters at winter meetings earlier this month. “We’re going to take the best player possible with that pick. We’ve been through the ups and downs of drafting very high and very low in the draft for a long time, so we’re adjusting and adapting. We need to choose the right players.”
What are the positives about not being included as a potential No. 1 pick this year?
“I definitely have less anxiety this year than last year,” Lizzo joked.
Last year’s pick? Cruz, 21, worked his way up to Double-A Harrisburg, getting his first taste of professional action after signing with the organization.
What did Rizzo and others in the front office learn about the current top prospects in their first foray into professional baseball?
“There wasn’t a lot we didn’t know,” Rizzo said. “…But he kind of reinforced what we knew. He cares about being on his feet, that’s a big thing about him. I think through his development in the minor leagues and that type of thing, you saw him play grueling, stressful seasons, have success in college, and then come to the pro game and give it his all in his last game. .I think that was important for him to finish that season in Double-A for a few months.”