Understanding the MLB Rule 5 Draft: Key Players to Watch

With the 2025 Rule 5 Draft set for December 10 at 2 PM ET in Orlando, teams are preparing to acquire new talent from other organizations. The Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select players who are not on their original team's 40-man roster, giving those players a chance to compete at the major league level.

According to Baseball America, any player who signed their first professional contract at 18 or younger becomes eligible for the draft after five seasons, while those who signed at 19 or older are eligible after four seasons.

A player selected in the draft must remain on the new team's major league roster for the entire upcoming season, or they risk being offered back to their original team for $50,000 of the original $100,000 selection fee.

The draft is particularly known for selecting pitchers, with 11 of the 15 players picked in the previous draft being pitchers. Teams like the Padres and Orioles have historically participated more frequently in the draft, while teams like the Dodgers and Yankees have not selected a player in years.

This year, several players stand out as potential picks. For instance, Matt Pushard, a right-handed pitcher for the Marlins, ended his season with a 3.61 ERA and could fit well as a plug-and-play relief option.

Andrew Pintar, also from the Marlins, is a speedy outfielder with a strong performance against left-handed pitching, hitting .269 with 24 stolen bases in 2025. Another notable name is Kyler Fedko from the Twins, who had a breakout season with 28 home runs and 38 steals, making him an intriguing option for a rebuilding team.

Among the pitchers, Harrison Cohen from the Yankees has a deceptive delivery and a high strikeout potential, while Tyler Vogel from the Giants showed strong stats with a 2.88 ERA and 25.4% strikeout rate.

These players, among others, could significantly impact team rosters for the 2026 season. Notably, players like Yordanny Monegro and Calvin Ziegler are also in the mix, with Monegro's strong performance before injury making him a likely candidate for selection despite his current status.

As teams finalize their strategies ahead of the draft, the focus will be on how these potential picks can transition into the majors and fill roster gaps effectively. Baseball America has provided an updated list of the top players to watch, showing the depth of talent available in the draft this year.