Chart: Patience required for Rule 5 draftees
The Rule 5 draft for minor leaguers takes place every offseason. Players have to spend a full season in the major leagues or be offered to their former teams for $25,000.
May 12, 2015 at 11:37AM
The Rule 5 draft for minor leaguers takes place every offseason. Players have to spend a full season in the major leagues or be offered to their former teams for $25,000. Since 1985, the Twins have kept four Rule 5 draftees for a full season; what they did their first year and how their Twins careers turned out:
YearPlayerAgeFormer teamFirst-season stats
2013RHP Ryan Pressly24Class AA Portland (Boston) 3-3, 3.87 ERA in 49 G
• Has shuttled between the Twins and Class AAA Rochester over the past two seasons, getting called up again May 1.
2000LHP Johan Santana21Class A Michigan (Houston)2-3, 6.49 ERA in 30 G
• The young Venezuelan turned into one of the greatest pitchers in Twins history, winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2004 and '06.
1990OF Shane Mack26Class AAA Las Vegas (San Diego).326, 8 HR, 44 RBI in 125 G
• A rare Rule 5 pick with big-league experience, he was the right fielder for the 1991 World Series champions and hit .309 in five seasons.
1989LHP Gary Wayne26Class AAA Indianapolis (Montreal)3-4, 4.29 ERA in 60 G
• Went 8-8 with three saves and a 3.44 ERA in four seasons as a lefthanded specialist for the Twins.
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Gerrit Cole gave up his opt-out right on Monday and will remain with the New York Yankees under a contract that runs through 2028 rather than become a free agent.
