The Rule 5 draft is always an exciting and nerve-wracking time for anyone who follows a team’s farm system, and this year is no different.

On November 19th, the Yankees protected two players, utility player Jesus Rodriguez and infielder Caleb Durbin.

Caleb Durbin steals a base during the Arizona Fall League (Photo via MLB)

Durbin had recently played in the Arizona Fall League on the Salt River Rafters with a few other Yankee prospects, but he stood out the most, being named the Breakout Player of the Year. In 24 games in the desert, Durbin batted a slash of .312/.424/.548, while stealing 29 bases in that span, good for the AFL stolen base record. He played in the AFL last year, but was unable to clinch the record due to injury, and said in an interview that that breaking the record was his goal last year. It should be noted that when it was last set in 1994 by the Phillies’ Rick Holifield, the AFL season was 50 games compared to the current 30 games played.

Durbin suffered a wrist injury after he fouled off a ball off of home plate, sidelining him for two months, but still played in 90 games in 2024, mostly for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Durbin batted .275/.388/.451 in the regular season with 60 RBI, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers and 53 walks. He also stole 31 of 35 bases successfully (88.6%), ranking fifth among other Yankee prospects in steals.

During a Zoom call with reporters last week, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “I think he’s a stud, frankly. Great bat-to-ball, elite ability on the bases as a base stealer, good defender in the middle of the diamond at second base. Really competitive, a hard-nosed, tough player. I’m excited about him and I think he’s going to play a big role for us this upcoming season.”

While it’s not mentioned much given the Yankees’ need for a second baseman with Gleyber Torres now as a free agent, Durbin spent some time in the outfield where they could take some advantage of his speed. Durbin spent 8 games in left field and one game in center field; he recorded a 1.000 field percentage. The Yankees likely won’t use him in this role, especially with Oswaldo Cabrera on the bench, but it’s still interesting to see that they’ve been trying him out in various roles, similar to this next prospect.

UTIL Jesus Rodriguez (John Brophy/NYYUNDERGROUND)

Jesus Rodriguez has been one of the sleeper prospects, in a way, given he’s been on the same team as other names like Spencer Jones, Rafael Flores, Chase Hampton and Brock Selvidge, to name a few. Rodriguez spent the majority of the 2024 season in High-A Hudson Valley (56 games) where he hit a slash of .332/.412/.507/.919 before getting promoted to Double-A Somerset in mid-June.

Rodriguez, a Venezuela native, hit .226/.278/.417/.695 in 23 games with Somerset. Despite a solid slash (combined .302 batting average and .856 OPS), he’s hit around 10 home runs per season the last two years. Rodriguez missed about 6 weeks of the second half of the season, and will likely start back in Somerset in 2025 unless Yankees brass see something in Spring Training that makes him stand out from the nearly half dozen other catchers.

What may make him stand out is that despite being a natural catcher, he played nearly the entire field in 2024, except for shortstop, center field, right field and pitcher. He did, however, spend most of the season behind the plate, a total of 272-⅓ innings (35 games), nabbing 21 of 103 runners (20.4%)

All this said, the Yankees have 33 other prospects that are Rule 5 eligible, and have the potential to be poached by other teams in a few weeks.

Via MLB, “Any player eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and not added to his organization’s roster by 6 p.m. ET [on 11/19] will be available to be selected by another organization. The Draft will take place at the Winter Meetings in Dallas on Wednesday, Dec. 11 [at 2 p.m. ET].

Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn’t stay on the 26-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

For this year, that means an international prospect or high school Draft pick signed in 2020 at age 18 or younger had to be protected. A college player — or 19-year-old high school player — taken in the 2021 Draft was in the same position.”

In addition to the Major League phase, the Rule 5 draft also has a minor league phase. This phase is less publicized, but still offers opportunities for player movement.

Impact on Minor League Players:

Most recently, right-handed pitching prospect Gabriel Barbosa was selected away from the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the Minor League phase, with right-handed pitching prospect Kervin Castro selected away from the Houston Astros in the second round. Castro missed all of 2024, while Barbosa spent the entire season in Single-A Tampa (5.09 ERA, 120-⅓ IP, 128 K, 1.30 WHIP). By comparison, the Yankees lost 4 prospects: INF Eric Wagaman (LAA, DFA on 11/19), C Mickey Gasper (BOS), RHP Michael Gomez (TB), and INF Marcos Cabrera (PIT).

In the Major League phase, the Yankees also lost three pitchers, RHP Mitch Spence to the A’s and RHP Matt Sauer to the Royals. Sauer was returned to the Yankees in May, and declared free agency in early November. RHRP Carson Coleman was selected by Texas, but missed all of 2024 as a result of right shoulder surgery, and was returned to the Yankees on November 19.

For the 2024 Draft, the Yankees have 34 prospects eligible, but not all are likely to be selected. It would be cruel irony for the Yankees to lose two prospects they just signed in the past weeks, relievers Cristian Hernandez (PHI) and Jordany Ventura (NYM). However, prospects like infielders T.J. Rumfield and Tyler Hardman, outfielders Elijah Dunham and Grant Richardson and pitchers Zach Messinger and Edgar Barclay would be more likely to be selected.

RHP Zach Messinger throws a pitch (Photo via Somerset Patriots)

Messinger was at the top of most lists that some were expecting to be protected (it should be noted that despite his utility, Rodriguez was not on any list). Messinger spent the entire 2024 season with Double-A Somerset, and threw a 3.06 ERA in 150 innings of work, with 25 of the 27 appearances as starts (he threw 2 relief appearances going behind rehabbing pitchers).

One thing of note with his 2024 campaign is that he didn’t throw as many strikeouts (8.16 K/9) compared to years past, although he did have an exceptional walk rate (3.12 BB/9) and HR rate (0.54 HR/9). The Virginia alum also had an excellent OBA of .204 and BABIP of .254, and had almost even splits of ground ball and fly ball rates (38.9% and 39.1%, respectively). He threw 12 consecutive scoreless innings

Messinger, a 6-foot-6, 225 lb. frame, throws a combination of four-seam fastball that sits around 93 MPH, a changeup that sits 82 MPH and a slider/sweeper, and uses the mid-80s sinker most as his “out” pitch.

LHP Edgar Barclay throws a pitch in Minor League Spring Training (John Brophy/NYYUNDERGROUND)

Edgar Barclay has mostly been used in a reliever role most of his pro career, but that overwhelmingly changed in 2024. Barclay, a left-handed pitcher, faced nearly triple the number of batters and pitched in more than triple the innings compared to that of 2023. In fact, he lead the team in most games started. He has also done noticeably worse in his time in Triple-A; with Double-A Somerset in 2023, he threw a 1.32 ERA with an insane 13.50 K/9, a 2.91 BB/9 and 0.26 HR/9 in 34 innings of work. Compare that to later that year in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he threw a 5.89 ERA with a decent 9.95 K/9 but poor 6.70 BB/9 and 2.23 HR/9 in 44-1/3 innings pitched.

Barclay experienced much of the same in 2024, but increased his time on the mound from 21 total appearances in 2023 to 29 appearances and 143 innings pitched. His numbers were relatively the same, despite an increased workload: 5.98 ERA, 7.43 K/9, 4.41 BB/9 and 1.89 HR/9. In one of his last appearances of the year, Barclay threw a three-pitch mix: a four-seamer that sat upper-80s, a changeup that ranged from 62-82 MPH but averaged 79 MPH, and a curveball that sat in the 70s but averaged 77 MPH. Barclay has never thrown much heat, per se, but that hasn’t been an issue given his breaking balls have historically shown a lot of movement.

Watching a game from September 2024 where he started versus Syracuse, Barclay didn’t have many issues with controlling the ball, throwing a few in the dirt in the first inning, but the command was off in the first inning, where he allowed 2 doubles and a run to 5 batters faced because he kept throwing balls down the middle. It appears that Barclay’s pitching motion was sped up a bit, so that may account for some of the performance differences, although his pitch velo is the same when compared to a game where he threw in relief in 2022.

Of the next 6 innings in which he threw in that random game this past September, he only allowed a walk and a single. It would seem likely that if Barclay were acquired by another team that they may realize that he is best suited as a reliever, especially considering he went 7 starts and 16-2/3 innings to start 2023 without allowing an earned run (he allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in that span).

INF T.J. Rumfield at bat in the 2024 Spring Breakout (John Brophy/NYYUNDERGROUND)

T.J. Rumfield, a first baseman acquired from the Phillies via trade in 2021, has been the Yankees’ top 1B prospect next to Ben Rice for well over a year, considering the Yankees do not have much depth in that role. In fact, Rumfield won the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for 1B in 2023, recording a .997 fielding percentage between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.

Rumfield spent all but 8 of 122 games played in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit a slash of .292/.365/.461/.826, with 26 doubles, 15 home runs and 71 RBI. 2024 proved to be Rumfield’s best year, offensively speaking, but his worst offensive year, committing 9 errors in 730 total chances (806-1/3 innings), for a fielding percentage of .988. Compare that to, say, Ben Rice, who committed only 2 errors in 289 total chances (349 innings) for a .993 fielding percentage in his debut season in the Majors. Where Rumfield would have an advantage over Rice is in size. Rumfield has a 6-foot-5 frame compared to the 6-foot-1 frame of Rice.

OF Elijah Dunham celebrates a home run with Anthony Seigler (Photo via Somerset Patriots)

Elijah Dunham was signed as an undrafted draft pick in 2020, arguably one of the best quality draft seasons the Yankees have had in years, and Dunham has has relatively consistent production since he debuted in Low-A Tampa in 2021. In two of the past three years, Dunham, a lefty hitter, has batted just under .250, with an OPS around .447, and has hit about 16 home runs each of the past 3 years.

Despite what some may consider average production, Dunham, an Indiana alum, was named the Eastern League Player of the Week three times in 2024. In that week, he batted 7-for-18 (.389) with 10 RBI on 4 HR and 4 SB. He also earned those same honors for the consecutive weeks of July 1-July 7 and July 8-July 14, where he combined to hit 18-for-44 (.409). Dunham drove in 12 RBI on 6 doubles, 4 home runs, and 36 total bases.

Aside from his offensive performances, Dunham plays all three positions in the outfield, but performs better in the corners; he has a career fielding percentage of .984 in left and .991 in right. Dunham has spent considerably less time in center field, but has a .976 fielding percentage there. He also played 8 innings at 1B without committing any errors.

OF Grant Richardson at bat in Reading, PA (Photo via Somerset Patriots)

Grant Richardson, another lefty outfielder out of Indiana, had objectively his best career season in 2024, considering he hit nearly as many doubles (25) as he had hit the previous three years (28). Richardson hit a slash line of .257/.319/.401/.720 in 108 games (a career high), with 3 triples, 9 home runs, and 47 RBI, in addition to the previously mentioned 25 doubles.

Richardson also struck out the least in 2024, with a 28.1% K rate, compared to his previous low of 31.2% in 2023. His BABIP saw some improvement, moving up to .346 from .261 during his time in High-A in 2023 (77 games), and accordingly, his slugging percentage went up from .389 to .401.

Similar to Dunham, Richardson performs best in the corners, with career fielding percentages of .985 in left, .955 in center and .979 in right field. But, despite not being overly speedy (only 16 stolen bases), Richardson has no issue covering a lot of ground as a result of efficient routes.

It remains to be seen who will be taken in the Draft, and who the Yankees will ultimately select, if anyone. It seems unlikely the Yankees will select any prospect in the Major League portion given the targets they need to sign, specifically Juan Soto and a handful of relievers, but it’s possible they forego a reliever or two if there’s a Triple or Double-A pitcher their pro scouts really like.

2024/25 Winter Ball StatusPositionNameAgeHow AcquiredR5 Status/OptionsUpdated Nov. 20, 2024
LIDOM Toros2B/3B/SSPablo Reyes31.2Free Agent (NYM) Nov'240
LF/CF/RFEverson Pereira23.6Amateur FA (VEN) Jul'170
RPGeoff Hartlieb30.9Free Agent (COL)Oct'240
RPColby White26.4Waivers (TBR) May'240
RPCody Morris28Trade (CLE) Dec'231
LVBP CardenalesC/1BCarlos Narvaez26Amateur FA (VEN) Jul'152
1B/CBen Rice25.7Drafted 12th Rd '212
CF/LF/RFDuke Ellis26.8Waivers (SEA) Aug'242
SPWill Warren25.4Drafted 8th Rd '212
SP/RPClayton Beeter26.1Trade (LAD) Aug'222
SPCody Poteet30.3Free Agent (KCR) Jan'242
SPBrandon Leibrandt31.9Free Agent (CIN) Nov'242
RPScott Effross30.9Trade (CHC) Aug'222
RPYerry De Los Santos26.9Free Agent (PIT) Nov'232
RPMcKinley Moore26.2Waivers (PHI) Feb'242
LIDOM AguilasC/1B/3BJ.C. Escarra29.6Free Agent (Indy) Feb'243
C/3B/LFJesus Rodriguez22.6Amateur FA (VEN) Jul'183
AFL2B/3B/LFCaleb Durbin24.7Trade (ATL) Dec'223
CF/LF/RFCam Eden26.6Purchased (TOR) Aug'243
RPZach Greene28.2R5 Return (NYM) Mar'233
RPCarson Coleman26.6R5 Ret. (TEX) Nov'24n/a
CAntonio Gomez23Amateur FA (VEN) Jul'18R5
C/1BOmar Martinez23.4Amateur FA (VEN) Jun'18R5
CManuel Palencia22.2Amateur FA (VEN) Aug'19R5
LIDOM Toros1BT.J. Rumfield24.5Trade (PHI) Nov'21R5
1B/3BTyler Hardman25.8Drafted 5th Rd '21R5
2B/3B/SSJose Colmenares22.6Amateur FA (VEN) Jul'18R5
3B/2B/SSBrenny Escanio21.9Trade (MIL) Sep'19R5
SS/3B/2BAlexander Vargas23.1Amateur FA (Cuba) Aug'18R5
RF/LF/CFElijah Dunham26.5Non-Drafted FA Jun'20R5
LF/RF/CFGrant Richardson25.4Drafted 17th Rd '21R5
LIDOM TorosLF/RFChristopher Familia24.4Amateur FA (DOM) Jul'18R5
RF/LFJoel Mendez21.8Amateur FA (DOM) Dec'19R5
SPZach Messinger25.1Drafted 13th Rd '21R5
SPBailey Dees25.8Drafted 18th Rd '21R5
SPEdgar Barclay26.5Drafted 15th Rd '19R5
SP/RPSean Boyle28.1Drafted 25th Rd '18R5
SPBrendan Beck26.1Drafted 2nd Rd (55) '21R5
SPBlane Abeyta26.2Non-Drafted FA Jun'20R5
SPGabriel Barbosa22.8Rule 5-AAA (COL) Dec'23R5
SPJustin Lange23.2Trade (SDP) Mar'22R5
SPTyrone Yulie23.3Amateur FA (DOM) Jul'18R5
RPAlex Mauricio28.2Drafted 27th Rd '17R5
RPCristian Hernandez24.2Free Agent (PHI) Nov'24R5
RPBarrett Loseke28Drafted 17th Rd '18R5
RPRyan Anderson26.2Drafted 12th Rd '19R5
LIDOM GigantesRPJordany Ventura24.4Free Agent (NYM) Nov'24R5
RPCole Ayers25.3Drafted 16th Rd '21R5
LIDOM GigantesRPLuis Velasquez23.4Amateur FA (DOM) Apr'19R5
RPDanny Watson24.1Drafted 15th Rd '21R5
LVBP CardenalesRPLeonardo Pestana26.3Amateur FA (VEN) Feb'18R5
LIDOM EscogidoRPJoel Valdez24.6Trade (PHI) Nov'21R5
RPIndigo Diaz26.1Trade (ATL) Dec'22R5
RPOcean Gabonia23.3Non-Drafted FA Jun'20R5
RPOsiel Rodriguez23Amateur FA (Cuba) Jul'18R5
AFLC/1BRafael Flores24Non-Drafted FA Jul'22Dec'25
LVBP TiburonesCEdinson Duran22.3Amateur FA (VEN) May'21Dec'25
C/1BJosue Gonzalez21.1Amateur FA (VEN) May'21Dec'25
3B/2B/SSHans Montero20.9Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'21Dec'25
CF/RF/LFSpencer Jones23.5Drafted 1st Rd (25) '22Dec'25
CF/RF/LFJace Avina21.5Trade (MIL) Nov'23Dec'25
CF/RF/LFWilly Montero20.3Amateur FA (DOM) May'21Dec'25
RF/LFAnthony Hall23.8Drafted 4th Rd '22Dec'25
SPTrystan Vrieling24.1Drafted 3rd Rd (100) '22Dec'25
SPChase Hampton23.3Drafted 6th Rd '22Dec'25
SPBrock Selvidge22.2Drafted 3rd Rd (92) '21Dec'25
SPCam Schlittler23.8Drafted 7th Rd '22Dec'25
SPBaron Stuart25.3Non-Drafted FA Jul'22Dec'25
SPSebastian Keane24Drafted 18th Rd '22Dec'25
AFLSPJackson Fristoe23.7Drafted 12th Rd '22Dec'25
AFLSPRyan Harvey23.8Drafted 11th Rd '22Dec'25
SPSean Hermann21.4Drafted 14th Rd '21Dec'25
SPWill Brian25.6Drafted 10th Rd '22Dec'25
SPHenry Lalane20.5Amateur FA (DOM) May'21Dec'25
SPLuis Serna20.3Amateur FA (MEX) May'21Dec'25
SPAngel Benitez21.2Amateur FA (DOM) Jul'21Dec'25
SP/RPJordarlin Mendoza21Amateur FA (DOM) Jun'21Dec'25
SP/RPAllen Facundo22.2Amateur FA (VEN) May'21Dec'25
RPKevin Stevens26.8Non-Drafted FA Jul'22Dec'25
AFLRPHarrison Cohen25.5Non-Drafted FA Aug'22Dec'25
RPEric Reyzelman23.4Drafted 5th Rd '22Dec'25
RPMatt Keating23.9Drafted 9th Rd '22Dec'25
RPHueston Morrill25Non-Drafted FA Jul'22Dec'25
RPThomas Balboni Jr.24.4Trade (SDP) Jul'24Dec'25
RPGeoffrey Gilbert23.5Drafted 13th Rd '22Dec'25
CTomas Frick24.1Drafted 15th Rd '23Dec'26
C/1BEngelth Urena20.3Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'22Dec'26
1B/3BJosh Moylan22.4Non-Drafted FA Jul'23Dec'26
LMP Naranjeros1B/3BDylan Jasso22Amateur FA (MEX) Jul'23Dec'26
1B/LF/RFCoby Morales23Drafted 18th Rd '23Dec'26
2B/SSRoc Riggio22.4Drafted 4th Rd '23Dec'26
3B/1BKiko Romero24.2Drafted 7th Rd '23Dec'26
3B/2BEnmanuel Tejeda19.9Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'22Dec'26
LIDOM EstrellasSS/2BRoderick Arias20.2Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'22Dec'26
SS/2BJuan Matheus20.6Amateur FA (VEN) Jan'22Dec'26
LMP VenadosSS/3B/2BSantiago Gomez20.6Amateur FA (MEX) Jan'22Dec'26
RF/LF/CFGarrett Martin24.4Non-Drafted FA Jul'23Dec'26
RF/LFJared Wegner25.3Drafted 9th Rd '23Dec'26
CF/LF/RFJackson Castillo21.6Non-Drafted FA Aug'23Dec'26
SPBen Shields25.8Non-Drafted FA Jul'23Dec'26
SPKyle Carr22.5Drafted 3rd Rd (97) '23Dec'26
SPBrian Hendry25.1Drafted 10th Rd '23Dec'26
SPJosh Grosz22.2Drafted 11th Rd '23Dec'26
SPCade Smith22.6Drafted 6th Rd '23Dec'26
AFLSPCarlos Lagrange21.5Amateur FA (DOM) Feb'22Dec'26
SPChalniel Arias21.2Amateur FA (DOM) Nov'21Dec'26
SP/RPSabier Marte20.8Amateur FA (DOM) May'22Dec'26
SPFranyer Herrera19.5Amateur FA (VEN) Jan'22Dec'26
SPMariano Salomon22.3Amateur FA (DOM) Dec'22Dec'26
SPEdinzo Marquez19.9Amateur FA (VEN) Jan'22Dec'26
RPTrent Sellers25.1Non-Drafted FA Jul'23Dec'26
RPKelly Austin23.9Trade (HOU) Jul'24Dec'26
RPMason Vinyard25.4Non-Drafted Aug'22Dec'26
RPCade Austin23.1Drafted 19th Rd '23Dec'26
RPChris Kean22.4Non-Drafted FA Jul'23Dec'26
CEdgleen Perez18.5Amateur FA (VEN) Mar'23Dec'27
C/1BLuis Puello18.8Amateur FA (VEN) Feb'23Dec'27
1BParks Harber23.2Non-Drafted FA Jul'24Dec'27
2BGabriel Terrero19.1Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'23Dec'27
2B/3BLuis Escudero18.8Amateur FA (PAN) Apr'23Dec'27
SS/2B/3BGeorge Lombard Jr.19.5Drafted 1st Rd (26) '23Dec'27
CF/LF/RFBrendan Jones22.6Drafted 12th Rd '24Dec'27
LF/RF/CFMarshall Toole21.7Drafted 15th Rd '24Dec'27
LF/RFJoe Delossantos23.4Drafted 10th Rd '24Dec'27
CF/RF/LFBrando Mayea19.2Amateur FA (Cuba) Jan'23Dec'27
RF/LFTyler Wilson22.4Drafted 8th Rd '24Dec'27
RF/LFDillon Lewis21.4Drafted 13th Rd '24Dec'27
LF/CF/RFBrian Sanchez20.4Trade (MIL) Nov'23Dec'27
LF/CF/RFGabriel Lara19Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'23Dec'27
SPBen Hess22.2Drafted 1st Rd (26) '24Dec'27
SPBryce Cunningham21.9Drafted 2nd Rd (53) '24Dec'27
SPThatcher Hurd21.9Drafted 3rd Rd (89) '24Dec'27
SPGage Ziehl21.5Drafted 4th Rd '24Dec'27
SP/RPGriffin Herring21.5Drafted 6th Rd '24Dec'27
SP/RPTanner Bauman22.5Drafted 9th Rd '24Dec'27
SPJerson Alejandro18.7Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'23Dec'27
SPJorge Luna20Amateur FA (MEX) Jan'23Dec'27
RPGreysen Carter21.9Drafted 5th Rd '24Dec'27
CQueni Pineda17.5Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'24Dec'28
1B/CCarlos Villarroel17.5Amateur FA (VEN) Jan'24Dec'28
3BRichard Matic17.3Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'24Dec'28
CFFrancisco Vilorio18.1Amateur FA (DOM) Jan'24Dec'28
RF/LF/CFDavid Carrera18.2Amateur FA (VEN) Jan'24Dec'28

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