Here are the results of the 2011 Rule 5 Baseball Draft, with scouting summaries for each player.
1) Houston Astros: Rhiner Cruz, RHP, from Mets: A 25-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, Cruz posted a 2.77 ERA with an 18/6 K/BB in 13 innings for High-A St. Lucie, followed by a 4.14 ERA with a 51/39 K/BB in 59 innings for Double-A Binghamton. Owner of a 95 MPH fastball, Cruz also has an erratic slider and a history of serious command problems. He could slot into a middle relief role but won't get a chance to close without huge improvements in his strike-throwing ability.
2) Minnesota Twins: Terry Doyle, RHP, from White Sox: Chicago drafted Doyle in the 37th round in 2008 from Boston College. He had an excellent season in '11, posting a 2.84 ERA with a 49/11 K/BB in 73 innings for High-A Winston-Salem, then a 3.24 ERA with a 73/22 K/BB in 100 innings for Double-A Birmingham. He followed that up with a 1.98 ERA and a 22/5 K/BB in 27 innings in the Arizona Fall League. Age 26, Doyle has a mediocre fastball in the 87-90 range, but he mixes in his breaking ball and changeup very effectively and throws strikes. He could end up being a useful fifth starter, and Minnesota seems like a good fit for his skills.
3) Seattle Mariners: Lucas Luetge, LHP, from Brewers: Luetge was a 21st round pick in 2008 out of Rice. At age 24, he posted a 3.13 ERA with a 69/23 K/BB in 69 innings for Double-A Huntsville this year, and held left-handed hitters to a .175 average. His fastball is average in the upper-80s, but he has an impressive curveball, and would fit well as a left-handed short man, the LOOGY (lefty-one-out-guy) role.
4) Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Flaherty, 3B-OF, from Cubs: A supplemental first-round pick in 2008 out of Vanderbilt, 25-year-old Flaherty hit .305/.384/.523 with 14 homers in 83 games for Double-A Tennessee, but just .237/.277/.399 in 49 games for Triple-A Iowa. His biggest problem has been finding a position. His range is very limited as a middle infielder, he's error-prone at third base, and doesn't excite scouts much as an outfielder. Although he's never lived up fully to expectations coming out of college, Flaherty could be a useful super-utility type with a bat that flashes power.
5) Kansas City Royals: Cesar Cabral, LHP, from Red Sox. Traded to Yankees. A 22-year-old Dominican lefty, Cabral posted a 1.62 ERA in 17 innings for High-A Salem with a 24/5 K/BB, then a 3.52 ERA with a 46/16 K/BB in 38 innings for Double-A Portland. He has pitched excellently in the Dominican Winter League this year, with a 12/2 K/BB in 10 innings and a 0.87 ERA. He has a 90-95 MPH fastball and a good changeup, but is still refining his breaking ball. He picks up a lot of ground balls. Cabral was involved in the '10 Rule 5, going from Boston to Tampa, but was returned to the Red Sox in spring training. The Royals traded him to the Yankees after selecting him this year.
6) Chicago Cubs: Lendy Castillo, RHP, from Phillies: Castillo was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. He posted a 2.54 ERA with a 46/16 K/BB in 46 innings for Low-A Lakewood in the South Atlantic League this year. A converted shortstop, the 22-year-old Castillo has taken well to pitching and has classic middle relief stuff with a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a slider. His lack of pitching experience above Low-A is his biggest handicap.
8) Pittsburgh Pirates: Gustavo Nunez, SS, from Tigers: A Dominican signed in 2007, Nunez hit .304/.368/.431 with 14 steals in 62 games for High-A Lakeland in '11, followed by a much weaker .215/.252/.289 mark in 34 games for Double-A Erie. A line drive hitter, the 23-year-old has good speed but lacks power and struggles against pitchers with above-average stuff. He is better on defense, where he shows above-average range and a strong throwing arm. He could have a long career as a utility infielder.
21) Atlanta Braves: Robert Fish, LHP, from Angels: A sixth-round pick in 2006 from high school in California, Fish at age 23 posted a 3.26 ERA with a 41/18 K/BB and a 1.88 GO/AO in 30 innings this year for Double-A Arkansas. He had an unusual reverse platoon split: right-handers hit .161 against him, lefties .256. Fish can hit 94 MPH but his breaking ball and command are erratic, and his track record is very mixed. Scouts love his arm strength but he is more thrower than pitcher. He was also selected in the Rule 5 draft in 2010 by the Yankees but didn't stick.
22) St. Louis Cardinals: Eric Komatsu, OF, from Nationals: Komatsu was drafted by the Brewers in the eighth round in 2008 from Cal State Fullerton. 24 years old, he was traded to the Nationals for Jerry Hairston Junior this past summer. He hit .277/.367/.382 in 124 games in Double-A this year, with 21 steals and 64 walks. The 24-year-old runs well and has a good eye at the plate, but lacks substantial power and profiles as a reserve outfielder.
23) Boston Red Sox: Marwin Gonzalez, 3B, from Cubs: Traded to Astros: A 22-year-old switch-hitter signed out of Venezuela in 2005, Gonzalez hit .301/.359/.421 in 64 games for Double-A Tennessee, then .274/.326/.376 in 60 games for Triple-A Iowa. He's currently hitting .321 in 28 games of winter ball in Venezuela. Gonzalez is a defense-first player who can handle shortstop, second base, third base, and even has experience at center field and first base. He won't hit a lot but he could stick in Houston as a reserve.
25) Arizona Diamondbacks: Brett Lorin, RHP, from Pirates: Lorin is 24 years old and was drafted in the fifth round by the Mariners in 2008. The Pirates got him in the Ian Snell/Jack Wilson trade in 2009. Lorin posted a 2.84 ERA with a 99/19 K/BB in 117 innings for High-A Bradenton this year, after missing most of 2010 with a hip injury. He has a mediocre fastball in the upper-80s, but has a good slider, changes speeds well, and throws strikes. He could be a fifth starter or long reliever.
29) New York Yankees: Brad Meyers, RHP, from Nationals: Age 26, Meyers posted an amazing 38/0 K/BB in 36 innings for Double-A Harrisburg this year with a 2.48 ERA, followed by a 3.48 ERA with a 74/15 K/BB in 96 innings for Triple-A Syracuse. His fastball is mediocre at 87-90 MPH, but his exquisite control helps play up the quality of his slider, curveball, and changeup. Like Lorin, he could be very useful as a fifth starter or long reliever, but might have an uphill battle to stick in New York.
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