Phillies Rule 5 Recap – One Gamble Pays Off and Another Is Made, Plus Some Depth Added

As detailed in the Rule 5 draft preview, the Phillies gambled that a handful of interesting prospects would not be the most interesting prospects available in the draft. That gamble paid off as no Phillies were selected in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. That means Erik Miller, Carlos De La Cruz, McKinley Moore, Andrew Schultz, and others likely will receive invites to major league camp, and there is a good chance that at least on the pitchers makes an appearance for the big league club. That was the one thing that went expected.

The Phillies made the shock of the major league phase in taking a former Dombrowski draft pick in Red Sox RHP Noah Song. Song was one the best college pitchers in 2019, but that was also the last time he pitched as he reported for his naval service after a trip to shortseason ball. No one really knows when Song will be available to pitch and no one really knows what he will pitch like. The Phillies were immediately able to stash Song on the 40 and then the military list, so the only costs right now are the $100,000 needed to pick him. If Song in a few years is anything like he was after the draft he could be a bullpen weapon or even an interesting starting pitcher. It is a gamble that is well worth making if you are the Phillies.

As the buzz from the Song pick died down the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft began. The Phillies raised my eyebrow during roll call when they announced a AAA roster that had 7 of its 38 spots open. The Phillies would use those spots being the only team to make picks in rounds 5 to 7 of the draft. They also in the process lost 5 players of their own. There wasn’t a big name on either side, but the Phillies were able to load up some needed depth.

Their losses (selecting team):

• OF Jefferson Encarnacion (Cubs) – 21 year old outfielder who had a lower body injury and re-injury that cost him the 2021 and 2022 seasons after the lost 2020 season. He had an interesting 2019 in the DSL, but it is easy to see why the Phillies did not protect him.
• RHP Manuel Urias (HOU) – Big RHP who has solid control, but fastball has been 89-91 and his offspeed pitches don’t particularly stand out. He will turn 22 in March and has 4.2 innings above the complex.
• RHP Kyle Glogoski (CIN) – Glogoski was an interesting prospect a few years ago, and he has a starting pitcher’s pitch mix including solid secondaries. The problem is he turns 24 in January and is losing some velocity and was 87-90 this season.
• RHP Carlos Reyes (LAD) – Reyes is a solid org reliever who has been 90-93 and been fine at many levels.
• IF Shervyn Newton (KCR) – Newton was just signed and the Phillies intentionally did not see it important to protect him. He is a big infielder entering his age 24 season and has never hit above low-A while posting plate discipline numbers that will keep you up at night.

Who they brought (original org):

• SS Pedro Martinez (TBR) – Martinez was a breakout prospect before the pandemic, but has largely not hit and barely played in 2022 due to injury. He has some average tools and might be able to stick at shortstop, so there is some utility upside here. He largely replaces Newton as A-ball depth.
• RHP Yoniel Ramirez (SFG) – Short right handed reliever who missed bats in the complex for the Giants. Looks like an interesting arm and only 21.
• RHP Zach Linginfelter (LAA) – Big college arm up to 98 who moved to the bullpen in 2022. Looks to struggle with control for his size.
• C Cody Roberts (BAL) – Roberts was a good defensive catcher with plus athleticism and arm strength out of the draft. Had a bit of an offensive breakout in 2022, but largely looks like an improvement on the AA catching depth they had.
• 2B Cam Cannon (BOS) – A second round pick by Boston the same year they took Song, so Dombrowski has some familiarity here. Cannon has not hit above hi-A and is second base only. He he does not swing and miss much, but he also has not impacted the ball. There is some raw power, but he looks more like an Ali Castillo improvement.
• RHP Trey Cobb (NYM) – Cobb is 28 and has been around for a while. He looks to be an org reliever.
• 2B Oliver Dunn (NYY) – Dunn missed much of the year, but had a very good short stretch in AA. Looks to be an infielder with some pop, and much like Roberts and Cannon raises the bar for org production.

All told, the Phillies had an absolutely dreadful AA team in 2022 and a lot of the late round picks here go towards raising the floor in an area that does not have a lot of help coming.