We are less than 24 hours away from the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, which means it’s time to discuss some potential fits for the Orioles to select in this year’s draft.
Held each December, the Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man roster players from other clubs. Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-man roster within five seasons, or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
Rule 5 Draft picks are assigned directly to the drafting club’s 26-man roster and must be placed on outright waivers in order to be removed from the 26-man roster in the subsequent season. Should the player clear waivers, he must be offered back to his previous team for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the Minors only if his original club does not wish to reacquire him.
Some notable former Orioles Rule 5 selections are Anthony Santander, Tyler Wells, Ryan Flaherty and O’s Hall of Famer Paul Blair.
There’s a lot of talent available in this year’s draft, so we dove in and listed five potentially good fits for the Orioles, who will have the No. 29 overall pick.
Tanner Burns – RHP: Cleveland Guardians
I personally have been a Tanner Burns believer since I saw him pitch for Auburn in 2019. Burns, Cleveland’s No. 17 prospect, is a little older at the age of 24. But the former first-round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft tore up the minor leagues this past season.
Burns’ 3.01 ERA in 29 games, 14 starts, last season was the lowest of his professional career. He did have a 4.3 BB/9 and does have a problem with giving up the long ball, as he gave up 11 homers last season. However, he had a great strikeout rate of 8.9 K/9 and a WHIP of 1.258.
Alberto Rodriguez – OF: Seattle Mariners
I was very surprised that Alberto Rodriguez wasn’t protected by the Mariners, but if the Orioles selected him, I would certainly be happy that they didn’t. Originally a Toronto Blue Jays prospect, Rodriguez was traded to the Mariners back in 2020 to fully complete the transaction that sent right-hander Taijuan Walker to Toronto. Rodriguez is currently ranked 17th in the Mariners’ top 30.
Rodriguez is a flat-out contact machine. In 460 at-bats, he collected 138 hits to give him a .300 average last season and also put together a .504 slugging percentage, hitting 14 home runs. The 23-year-old also hit 38 doubles and seven triples, giving him a total of 59 extra-base hits last year. He also has a fantastic glove in the outfield and a cannon of an arm.
Carlos De La Cruz – OF: Philidelphia Phillies
Carlos De La Cruz is someone that I think goes under the radar when discussing outfield prospects. The 24-year-old just finished his fifth year of minor league baseball, and while his 2023 was a down year from his 2022 campaign, he still showed potential at the Double-A level. He is currently ranked sixth in the Phillies’ top 30.
De La Cruz is an extra-base hit machine, crushing 24 home runs and 25 doubles last season. He also had a .797 OPS combined with a .344 OBP and .454 Slugging, and he can play both the outfield and first place.
J.T. Ginn – RHP: Oakland Athletics
J.T. Ginn is a plus prospect pitcher who unfortunately had a bad 2023 MiLB season, but I completely expect a full turnaround in 2024. Ginn is currently ranked 18th in the Athletics’ top 30.
Ginn, 24, was drafted by the New York Mets in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Mississippi State and was traded before the 2022 season in the Chris Bassitt deal. He started eight games and compiled an 8.78 ERA, but he also dealt with a lot of injuries. Ginn also had control issues, having 16 walks in 26.2 innings.
Fun Fact: Joe Drake, who caught J.T. Ginn’s professional debut, currently is a scouting consultant in the Orioles organization.
Aaron Schunk – INF: Colorado Rockies
My favorite hitting prospect in the entire Rule 5 Draft is Rockies utility infielder Aaron Schunk. At 26 years old, Schunk is someone who, while older, shows potential to be a contributor in the big leagues, as he is currently the 27th ranked prospect for the Rockies.
Schunk played the entire season in Triple-A, and the fact that he didn’t make the MLB roster last year at any point is surprising. His .811 OPS with his .290 batting average showed improvement from his first two full seasons, as he collected 133 hits, cracking 24 doubles and 14 home runs while stealing 12 bases.
The 2023 Rule 5 Draft is set for Wednesday, December 6, at 2 p.m. EST.
Who do you think the Orioles will select this year? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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