The Count Presents the Number of the Day: Rule 5

December 2005 Rule 5 Draft Analysis

Kansas City: Fabio Castro, LHP, from White Sox
     Reportedly traded to Texas for Esteban German. Castro will be given a chance to earn a role in the bullpen. 2.28 ERA in 79 innings for Class A Winston-Salem, 75/37 K/BB. Good numbers, looks like he could be an effective LOOGY. Stuff is slightly above average, but because he is short and skinny (5-8, 160) he wasn't considered a premium prospect. Only 20 years old.

Colorado: Luis Gonzalez, LHP, from Dodgers
     From Puerto Rico, 22 years old. 7-2, 2.21 in 41 games for Double-A Jacksonville, 46/34 K/BB in 61 innings. Hit hard in 10 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs. Like Castro, his stuff is a bit above average and he could be an effective LOOGY if he throws strikes.

Tampa Bay: Steven Andrade, RHP, from Blue Jays
     Reportedly will be traded to San Diego.1.97 ERA for Double-A New Hampshire, 71/16 K/BB in 50 innings. 27 years old, a lot of scouts don't like him, but he hits 90 MPH and has a nasty breaking ball that he uses to collect strikeouts. Should be useful in the bullpen.

Pittsburgh: Victor Santos, RHP, from Royals
    Signed by the Royals as a minor league free agent, he went 4-13, 4.57 in 142 innings for the Brewers this year. Basically a replacement level pitcher, something of an unusual Rule 5 guy.

Detroit: Chris Booker, RHP, from Nationals
     Power arm with erratic track record, but when he throws strikes he can be overpowering. 2.49 ERA with 91 strikeouts in just 65 innings for Triple-A Louisville, 20 saves, just 45 hits allowed. Another possible middle reliever. Sold to Philadelphia.

San Diego: Seth Etherton, RHP, from Royals
     Signed by the Royals as a minor league free agent, after going 7-7, 2.72 in 112 innings for Triple-A Sacramento. Has not pitched well in major league action, but his done well enough in Triple-A to deserve further chances. Like Santos, the fact that Etherton was selected shows that the draft class was quite thin this year.

New York NL: Mitch Wylie, RHP, from Giants
    4.50 ERA, 58/15 K/BB in 66 innings for Triple-A Fresno. 28 years old, with a mediocre minor league track record. Throws strikes but hasn't had an ERA lower than 4.34 since 1999. A non-exciting pick.

Florida: Dan Uggla, 2B, from Diamondbacks
     Hit .297/.378/.502 with 33 doubles, 21 homers, 15 steals for Double-A Tennessee. Short infielder (5-11 max), 25 years old, but has pop in his bat. Could be a very useful bench guy with a strong bat.

Minnesota: Jason Pridie, OF, from Devil Rays
    Limited to 28 games at Double-A Montgomery by injury. Very toolsy, good glove, has gap power and speed, but plate discipline is poor and he has yet to live up to expectations. 22 years old, hits from the left side.

Boston: James Vermilyea, RHP, from Blue Jays
    23 years old, brilliant at the Class A and Double-A levels but hit hard in Triple-A, posting 5.60 ERA and allowing 49 hits in 35 innings for Syracuse. Excellent command but his stuff is average and he is hittable.

St. Louis: Juan Mateo, RHP, from Cubs
    10-5, 3.21 in 109 innings for Class A Daytona, 123/27 K/BB. I like this guy but he is a long way from the majors. Well, now he's not I suppose. If the Cards want to keep him, they can stash him away in the back end of the bullpen. Dominican, 23 years old, throws strikes.

Florida: Mike Megrew, LHP, from Dodgers
     Injury season, threw just nine innings between the GCL Dodgers and Vero Beach, allowing 13 hits and 12 runs. When healthy, shows slightly above-average stuff from the left side. Best pitch is his curveball. 21 years old.

I don't see a lot to be really excited about here. There are no obvious Andrew Siscos in this class. The most interesting guys in my opinion are Andrade, Uggla, and Mateo.