The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings are almost at an end, and it’s been a crazy last few days for the sport.
We have seen major signings, trades and the draft lottery over the past 72 hours, and now we have the 2025 Rule 5 Draft. For the Baltimore Orioles, it was an event of departure, as the organization lost seven minor league players to other clubs while not making a single selection themselves.
The club passed with the 24th pick in the first round, extending its streak to two consecutive years. The Orioles had a stretch of 18 drafts in a row with a selection prior to the 2023 Winter Meetings.
Let’s discuss who the Orioles lost in this year’s draft.
Major League Phase:
The Orioles did lose their No. 8 overall prospect, right-hander Juan Nuñez, to the San Diego Padres in the major league phase. The Birds acquired Nuñez during the 2022 trade deadline in the deal that sent Jorge Lopez to the Minnesota Twins.
Nuñez pitched in just seven games this past season and is currently coming off a shoulder injury that required surgery. The Azua, Dominican native is also still just 24 years old and has yet to pitch higher than High-A ball.
The Padres have to keep Nuñez at the MLB level, unless he is on the IL, or else he has to be returned back to the organization.
Triple-A Phase:
The Colorado Rockies selected right-hander Tyler Burch, who originally came to the Orioles during the 2021 trade deadline when he was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Freddy Galvis. Burch missed most of the 2024 season due to injury but did have a 4.82 ERA in the eight games he pitched this past season with High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected right-hander Dan Hammer. Originally drafted in the 13th round of the 2019 draft by the Orioles, Hammer pitched 32 games in relief between Aberdeen and Bowie, posting a 4.67 ERA and holding batters to a .238 batting average.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected outfielder John Rhodes. The Orioles drafted Rhodes in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft, and he’s coming off a career-low .580 OPS in 104 games with the Baysox during the 2024 season.
The Houston Astros selected right-hander Jean Pinto, who the Orioles acquired in 2020 when they sent shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Los Angeles Angels. Pinto sat out the 2024 season because of injury but did post a 3.10 ERA during the 2023 season with Aberdeen and Bowie.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected right-hander Zach Peek. The Orioles acquired Peek back in 2019 when they dealt right-hander Dylan Bundy to the Angels. The 26-year-old has pitched a total of 13 games in the last two seasons because of Tommy John surgery and other injuries to his shoulder.
Lastly, the Philadelphia Phillies selected outfielder Elio Prado, who the Orioles acquired during the 2019 trade deadline when they sent right-hander Andrew Cashner to the Boston Red Sox. Prado spent 76 games with Aberdeen last season and posted a .659 OPS while stealing 19 bases in 28 attempts.
Overall, the Orioles didn’t gain any players yet did lose some talent. However, the farm system is still solid as a rock right now heading into the 2025 season. In total, seven players were taken from the organization.
What are your thoughts on the results of this year’s Rule 5 Draft? 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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