The annual Rule V draft took place this morning, with 12 teams making selections. Players taken in the Rule V draft must stay in the majors with their drafting team for the entire season, or be offered back to their original organization.
1 - Astros - Rhiner Cruz, RHP (drafted from NYM)
2 - Twins - Terry Doyle, rhp (CWS)
3 - Mariners - Lucas Luetge, lhp (MIL)
4 - Orioles - Ryan Flaherty, util - (CHC)
5 - Yankees - Cesar Cabral, lhp (BOS)
6 - Cubs - Lendy Castillo, rhp (PHI)
8 - Pirates - Gustavo Nunez, ss (DET)
21- Braves - Robert Fish, lhp (LAA)
22 - Cardinals - Eric Komatsu, of (WAS)
23 - Astros - Marwin Gonzalez, 3b (CHC)
25 - Diamondbacks - Brett Lorin, rhp (PIT)
29 - Yankees - Brad Meyers, rhp (WAS)
Of the position players, Komatsu and Flaherty have the best chance to stick with their teams for the duration of the season. Komatsu has had offensive success in the minors (albeit none higher than Double-A), and if he can play center defensively, even in a back-up role, he could make a nice 5th or perhaps even 4th outfielder this year. Flaherty doesn't really have a defensive position, but his best option is probably third base, where the Orioles have a void. He has also seen time at short, second, and corner outfield throughout the minors, and he's a left-handed stick with a little pop, so his versatility and pinch-hitting ability should enable him to stick, even if he can't win a regular job.
The pitchers fall into three categories: hard-throwers who could stick or flame out (Cruz); potential LOOGYs (Luetge, Cabral, and Fish); and finesse rightys with good control (Doyle, Lorin, Meyers) who could stick an entire year the way Nathan Adcock did with the Royals last year, depending mostly on how roster shuffling plays out throughout the season.
