Rule 5 DBacks History
It’s not good
TLDR: Largely the Rule 5 Draft has been a net negative for the Dbacks. They’ve lost Dan Uggla, Brad Keller, Victor Reyes, Javier Lopez, John Breibba and almost Ender Inciarte and gained Joe Paterson and Tyler Gilbert.
The Rule 5 Draft has been around for over 100 years. Andrew Simon of MLB.com recently wrote a great history lesson on the Rule 5 Draft. The full rules of the current Rule 5 Draft can be found there too, but essentially minor leaguers who have played a long time in the minors but are not on the 40 man roster can be drafted to the MLB roster. There’s AAA portion that follows the same rules, just for players not currently on 40 man roster. Some years also included AA Rule 5 Draft. Lastly, the Rule 5 Draft is in December each year, so the 1997 Draft means these players on the 1998 team.
So let’s break it down, starting with the first Rule 5 Draft the Diamondbacks participated in, 1997.
1997
MLB: Drafted Marlins RHP Martin Sanchez and Mets RHP Ynocencio De La Cruz
No AA or AAA Rule 5 Draft in 1997
This being the Diamondbacks Rule 5 debut, them and the Rays were allowed to draft players and keep them in the minors all season. The Rays did not select a player, but the DBacks took 2 pitchers who never made it to the MLB. Martin Sanchez stayed in the Diamondbacks farm system for 3 full seasons, but peaked at AA.
Ynocencio De La Cruz had an extremely short career, after 1year with the Mets the Diamondbacks took him in the Rule 5 Draft, get made 10 starts then never pitched again? Having trouble finding any other information other than he was in Major League camp prior to 1998 inaugural season via this Tim Kirkjian article from March 1998. He also has photos in actual Diamondbacks jerseys, so they must have been really high on Ynocencio.
1998
MLB: None
AAA: Drafted Brewers RHP John O’Reilly and Tigers LHP Derek Dace
AA: Drafted Rockies RHP Scott Schroeffel
Both 1998 AAA picks did not make it to the majors. John O’Reilly made it just 1 season in A ball before being released after a rough season.
Derek Dace held on much longer, playing 3 seasons in the Diamondbacks farm system including a really solid 2000 season with a 3.82 ERA in 59 games.
Scott Schroeffel weirdly made it to AAA with the Rockies, but finished the season in A ball. Diamondbacks scooped him, but his rough 1999 AA season was his last in pro ball.
1999
MLB: None
AAA: Lost LHP Jeff Wilson
AA: Drafted 3B Billy Martin, Lost SS Julius Matos
Back to back years the Diamondbacks did not draft or lose anyone in the Rule 5 Draft. They did lose their first 2 players in franchise history via Rule 5 Draft. LHP Jeff Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the AAA phase and lasted 5 full seasons in their system with some solid seasons, but never got the call up.
The Diamondbacks also lost SS Julius Matos who was drafted by the Padres in the new AA phase. Matos is the first player involved in the Rule 5 with the Diamondbacks to make it to the majors, where he had 259 plate appearances in 2 seasons.
The one player the Diamondbacks acquired in 1999 was 3B Billy Martin. He posted massive 2000 and 2001 seasons with OPS over .900 and 51 combined homers. Little surprising he didn’t get called up in 2003 after posting a 1.056 OPS in AAA Tucson. He got a bag at least in Japan in 2004, but that was the beginning of the end as he played just 1 last season for the Nats in the minors.https://www.mlb.com/news/complete-history-of-the-mlb-rule-5-draft-c210225288https://www.mlb.com/news/complete-history-of-the-mlb-rule-5-draft-c210225288
2000
MLB: None
AAA: None
AA: Lost SS Jeff Powers, RHP Mike Rooney, RHP Jeff Andrews
Third year in a row the Diamondbacks did not lose or draft anyone in the MLB phase. Diamondbacks stayed out of the AAA phase, but did lose 3 players in the AA phase. Jeff Powers was taken by the Rockies after a nice 2000 season where he hit .309. Powers played for every minor league level for the Rockies in 2001, but struggled to reach the Mendoza line and was out of baseball following the season.
Mike Rooney (not the Mike Rooney who coached at ASU and announces college baseball on ESPN) never appeared in a game after being drafted in the Rule 5 by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Jeff Andrews pitched in just 9 games after being selected by the Montreal Expos, this trio the Diamondbacks lost didn’t hurt them one bit.
2001
MLB: Lost OF Ryan Christenson
AAA: Lost P Hatuey Mendoza
AA: Lost 3B Dan Brooks, Drafted P Dan Martinez
Ryan Christenson is an interesting rule 5 pick as he played 3 full seasons with the A’s. In the middle of 2001 after struggling to make the MLB roster he was traded to Arizona and had 5 at bats in 19 games on the 2001 World Champion Diamondbacks. Left unprotected after the season, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him and kept Christenson for the entire 2002 season.
Hautey Mendoza (what a name) never made it to the majors after being drafted by the Anaheim Angels.
Jeff Brooks played 10 seasons of pro ball, but never got above A ball. Never playing in AA despite being a Rule 5 AA pick means the Padres offered Brooks back to Arizona, but they said no thanks.
The lone Diamondbacks player acquired in the 2001 Rule 5 Drafts was Dan Martinez, but he never appeared in a game post draft.
(Yes that’s a card from his independent league team in Brooks final season)
2002
MLB: Lost RP Javier Lopez, RP Luis Ayala, OF Victor Hall
AA/AAA: None
This is the beginning of the Diamondbacks bad Rule 5 fortune. Javier Lopez went on to be a really good left handed RP for 14 MLB seasons. Lopez was actually drafted by the Red Sox in this Rule 5 Draft then traded to the Colorado Rockies. Lopez would go on to win 4 World Series (1 Boston, 3 San Francisco) and pitch against the Diamondbacks A LOT.
Luis Ayala went on to have a really nice MLB career too as a middle reliever over the course of 9 MLB seasons. Montreal Expos drafted Ayala away from the DBacks.
Victor Hall was drafted by the Rockies but returned to the Diamondbacks before the season started. Hall played 10 minor league season but never made it to the MLB.
2003
MLB: None
AAA: None
AA: Lost P Somer Gonzalez
The Diamondbacks drafted 2 players in the 1997 Rule 5 Draft and have now gone 6 seasons without drafting another player. With the very last pick of the 2003 AA phase, Somer Gonzalez was drafted by the Montreal Expos. That organization really liked taking Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 Draft. Interestingly Gonzalez only pitched 1 minor league season and did not appear in a game with the Diamondbacks before hand. He was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic, so maybe games in early leagues didn’t record stats like the do today? Wonder if the Expos/Nationals missed out on signing him and kept an eye on Somer. This is the first player to have zero photos online too…
2004
MLB: Drafted P Angel Garcia
AAA: Lost P Doc Brooks
AA: None
The 2004 51-111 Diamondbacks net Arizona the 1st pick (Justin Upton) and the 1st Rule 5 pick in Angel Garcia. This was the first Rule 5 pick since their debut in 1997. Garcia was returned to the Twins before the season started and he never appeared in a MLB game.
Doc Brooks BALLED OUT in 2004 with a .939 OPS, but didn’t do much with you guessed it the Expos/Nationals organization after being selected by them.
2005
MLB: Lost 2B Dan Uggla, yup
AAA: Lost OF Jeff Cook, P Josh Perrault
AA: None
Dan Uggla was truly one of the greatest Rule 5 picks ever. Despite a 21 HR, 15 SB, .297 season in AA the rebuilding Diamondbacks left Uggla unprotected anyways. Dan Uggla went on to become a power hitting All-Star in Florida for 5 seasons hitting 154 dingers. Those 2007-08 teams with Dan Uggla would hve been awesome…
Luckily the the AAA loses weren’t as bad. At this point the Diamondbacks haven’t drafted a AAA player since 1998…. Jeff Cook never appeared in another minor league game after the Pirates drafted him.
Josh Perrault did have a lengthy MiLB career, even reaching AAA. Back to back great AAA performances sadly weren’t enough in 2008 and 2009. A rough age 28 2010 ended his career and he never ma it to the show.
2006
MLB/AAA/AA: None
I’m not totally sure if the Diamondbacks knew during this era that there was a AA or AAA phase of the Rule 5 Draft or how to select players in this draft…
2007
MLB: None
AAA: None
AA: Drafted 1B/OF Baltazar Lopez
The Diamondbacks must have seen this name on a list and decided to FINALLY draft someone in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Baltazar never appeared in a game for the Diamondbacks then AA Mobile Bay Bears and played a long career in the Mexican League instead.
2008
MLB: Drafted C James Skelton
AAA: None
AA: None
This is just the 3rd draft ever where the Diamondbacks drafted a player in the MLB phase (‘97, ‘05). Buckle up because the Diamondbacks are about to draft someone 7 years in a row starting with 2008 James Skelton. This is the first pick I remember as Skelton had a really fun catcher/outfielder skillset. The Diamondbacks liked Skelton enough to trade a player to the Tigers to keep Skelton (RHP Brooks Brown who later had 2 solid seasons with the Rockies). Skelton hit .303 with .856 OPS and 15 SB’s the year before the DBacks drafted him, but struggled to .207 average between A/AA and was released the following Spring Training.
2009
MLB: Drafted LHP Zach Kroenke, Lost RHP Hector Ambriz
AAA: None
AA: None
The Diamondbacks drafted Zach Kroenke from the Yankees and he pitched parts of 2 seasons. Interesting loophole in Kroenke’s case was that this was his 2nd time being a Rule 5 pick, so the Diamondbacks did not have to offer him back to the Yankees and could stash him in the minors.
Hector Ambriz pitched parts of 4 seasons in the majors, including a nice 2012 with the Astros.
2010
MLB: Drafted LHP Joe Paterson
AAA: Drafted OF Jose Rivero
AA: None
Joe Paterson had the best single season of a Rule 5 pick in Arizona to date. 62 games and 2.91 ERA as a left handed specialist, his unique cross body throwing style became a fan favorite early. The next 3 season were tough as he lost his mojo and never was able to find MLB success again, We will never forget his importance to the 2011 playoff team though!
Jose Rivero didnt play a single game after being selected as he was traded on Rule 5 Draft Day to the Oakland Athletics.
2011
MLB: Drafted RHP Brett Lorin
AAA: None
AA: None
Brett Lorin was drafted from the Pirates, but did not make the team out of Spring Training. The Diamondbacks gained full control of Lorin by trading RHP Robby Rowland to Pittsburgh. Both pitchers reached AAA but never made it to the majors.
2012
MLB: Drafted RHP Starling Peralta, Lost OF Ender Inciarte
AAA: None
AA portion was stopped this year
Ender Inciarte’s entering DBacks tenure was a rollercoaster. The Diamondbacks lost Ender Inciarte to the Phillies, but luckily he didnt make the Opening Day team and the DBacks got him back. Inciarte then went on to have 2 awesome seasons in Arizona… but then was dealt (with Dansby Swanson) for Shelby Miller…
Starling Peralta had a less exciting run with the Diamondbacks as he was returned to the Cubs before the season started. He never made it to the MLB.
2013
MLB: Drafted RHP Marcos Mateo, Lost LHP Patrick Schuster and RHP Kevin Munson
AAA: Drafted RHP Mike Lee and RHP Hector Hernandez
Marcos Mateo was in the majors for the Cubs in 2010 and 2011. This made it back to back years that the Diamondbacks drafted a Cubs pitcher. Mateo was brought back to Chicago as a Minor League free agent, Rule 5 drafted by the Diamondbacks, but returned in Spring Training back to the Cubs.
Patrick Shuster has a WILD offseason. The Diamondbacks lost him to the Astros, the Astros traded him to the Padres for Anthony Bass, the Padres waived Schuster and got claimed by the Royals, the Royals then returned Schuster to the Diamondbacks. All of this happened before Opening Day! Schuster pitched well that season for the DBacks in the minors before being dealt to the Reds the following season. In 2016 Schuster finally made it to the majors with 2 other teams, A’s and Phillies.
Kevin Munson pitched 6 full season in the minors for the Diamondbacks but never made it to the majors. In this Rule 5 Draft the Phillies returned Munson in Spring Training.
Mike Lee made it half a season with the Diamondbacks AA squad before being traded to Toronto, he never made it to the Majors
Hector Hernandez is actually still pitching today in independent leagues. Hernandez put together some solid seasons between all 3 levels, but never enough to stick in AAA that long. His Baseball Reference page is extremely long, so you can check it out here.
2014
MLB: Drafted C Oscar Hernandez
AAA: Drafted RHP Tim Crabbe, Lost C Steve Rodriguez, OF Brett Jackson, SS Pedro Ruiz, SS Nathan Samson
Oscar Hernandez was drafted from Tampa who was just 20 at the time. Injuries allowed him to stay on roster and appear in just 18 games year 1, 4 games year 2, full year in minors year 3 before Mike Hazen let him leave in MiLB free agency. Really good glove but terrible bat.
Tim Crabbe went to Sabino HS in Tucson! He put together a really solid season in the minors and I’m surprised his 1 year in the Diamondbacks organization was his final in pro ball.
The Diamondbacks ended up losing 4 players in the AAA phase of the Rule 5 Draft, their most yet. Steve Rodriguez played 2 seasons in the Braves farm system before retiring, his bat just struggled mightily.
Brett Jackson was acquired by the Diamondbacks in August, was left unprotected and taken by the Giants. Jackson actually got some at bats in Arizona and a nice size of playing time in 2012 with the Cubs.
Pedro Ruiz was taken by the Angels and played just 1 season there before being out of pro ball.
Nathan Samson played 1 season with the Dodgers through 3 levels before playing a half decade of independent league ball.
2015
MLB: None
AAA: Drafted C Eduardo de Oleo, SS Robelys Reyes, OF Chad Oberacker, OF Devin Harris, Lost P Ariel Hernandez, P Blayne Weller, P Yefry Ramirez, INF Garrett Weber, P John Brebbia, OF Alex Glenn
Phew, insane year for the Diamondbacks in the AAA phase. I’m only going. to break down the MLB guys here starting with the biggest name, John Brebbia. Cardinals drafted RHP John Brebbia in the AAA portion after the Dbacks signed him as a MiLB free agency. In 3 seasons Briebba had a 3.14 ERA in 161 games for the Cards, then post Tommy John had another successful run with the Giants.
Ariel Hernandez made it to the show in 2017, but walks were an issue as he almost walked a guy per inning.
Yefry Ramirez had a long road to the MLB, but had some success once there. Yankees drafted Ramirez from the Diamondbacks, then sold him to the Orioles. Ramirez pitched with the O’s, Pirates, Dodgers at the MLB level but did not appear in pro ball in 2023.
None of the 4 Diamondbacks selections made it to the MLB.
2016
MLB: Drafted RHP Tyler Jones
AAA: Drafted P Jon Fitzsimmons, P Grant Sides, SS Daniel Lockhart, Lost C Eduardo De Oleo, OF Chuck Taylor
None of the AAA players made it to the majors. Eduardo De Oleo was drafted by the Diamondbacks the prior season in the AAA phase. Tyler Jones was returned to the Yankees the following Spring Training and also never made it to the majors. He put up some great strikeout numbers in AAA, but could never break through.
2017
MLB: Lost SP Brad Keller & OF Victor Reyes, Drafted P Albert Suarez
AAA: Drafted OF Jay Gonzalez & P Lane Ratliff, Lost C BJ Lopez, C Tyler Baker, OF Jean Selmo, P Kaleb Fleck
Nothing (hopefully) will ever top the loss of Dan Uggla in the Rule 5 Draft, but Brad Keller is a pretty tough loss. Keep in mind the 2018 did have a rock solid starting 5 that all had a strong 2017 (Greinke, Corbin, Ray, Walker, Godley), but there was ZERO depth behind them. Midseason Clay Buchholz signing saved the season, but spot starts from Matt Koch, Kris Medlen, and Shelby Miller did not go well. Maybe if the Diamondbacks cut bait on Shelby Miller earlier, they could have kept Brad Keller.
Keller had a strong 3.08 ERA in 20 GS, 21 relief appearances in his rookie year, which could have gone a long ways in a rotation where Taijuan Walker made just 3 starts because of Tommy John. The Royals actually traded with the Reds in the Rule 5 Draft to ensure they received Brad Keller. Really dark days of the 2019-2022 rotation could have badly used Brad Keller too.
Victor Reyes didn’t turn out to be as successful as Brad Keller, but he did put together a nice couple runs in Detroit. Reyes could have been a solid 4th OF as the Diamondbacks had a black hole post JD Martinez in RF. Opportunity would have been there for Reyes post Souza injury in 2018, Pollock injuries, and just some bad 2020/21 teams.
Instead of keeping Brad Keller the Diamondbacks had an open 40 man spot to draft Albert Suarez. After 2 seasons with the Giants, they removed him from the 40 man, and when the Diamondbacks offered him back in Spring Training the Giants said nah we’re good. 2018 was Suarez last season in pro ball as he pitched fine in AAA Reno.
The Diamondbacks were busy in the AAA phase but none of it matters. None of the 6 players lost and drafted have made it to the majors (OF Jay Gonzalez & P Lane Ratliff, Lost C BJ Lopez, C Tyler Baker, OF Jean Selmo, P Kaleb Fleck).
2018
MLB: Drafted RHP Nick Green
AAA: Drafted P Jeffrey Baez, Lost P Jason Creasy & P Cristofer Ogando
Nick Green actually had a lot of hype in Spring Training, but ultimately didn’t make the roster and was returned to the Yankees. This turned out to be a good move since he completely fell off the next season in the minors in 2019.
Cristofer Ogando is the only pick of the AAA trio that made it to the majors, with 4.1 solid innings in 2022. After that season he was granted free agency but hasn’t signed anywhere since.
2019
MLB: None
AAA: None
2020
MLB: Drafted RP Zach Pop (to trade to Miami)
AAA: Drafted LHP Tyler Gilbert, Lost C Ryan January, 1B Yoel Yanqui, SS Steven Leyton
Zach Pop was drafted by the Diamondbacks from the Orioles to be traded to Miami for a player to be named later which turned out to be a different pitcher than before named Tyler Jones, who pitched one minor league season before being out of baseball. Zach Pop has been a solid reliever the last 3 seasons and is still on the Blue Jays.
Tyler Gilbert may be the best Rule 5 pick the Diamondbacks have ever had since he threw a no hitter in 2021 and has been a part of the last couple Diamondbacks teams. One really good Joe Paterson season vs a no hitter and solid work over 3 seasons. Again, the Rule 5 Draft has been net negative for the Diamondbacks, but in Tyler Gilbert’s case it’s always cool that we took him from the Dodgers.
Ryan January, Yoel Yanqui, Steven Leyton have yet to get close to the majors and aren’t ranked prospects.
2021
MLB: No Rule 5 MLB Phase Draft due to lockout
AAA: Lost INF Andrew Young, OF Ben Deluzio, P Matt Brill
In a weird Rule 5 Draft in the middle of a lockout, the MLB roster moves were frozen, BUT minor league moves weren’t. The AAA phase went 5 round with the Marlins selecting 5 players, by far the most I’ve seen taken. The Diamondbacks didn’t take anyone, but lost 3 players. Andrew Young was a part of the Goldschmidt trade, but hasn’t made it back to the majors. Matt Brill struggled in his AAA debut for the Nats and didnt pitch in 2023. Ben Deluzio did reach the MLB with the Cardinals in 2022 but went 3-20 and spent all of 2023 in AAA.
2022
MLB: None
AAA: Drafted P Taylor Rashi, P Denny Larrondo, P Peter Solomon, Lost P Justin Lewis
The Diamondbacks were not involved in this MLB Rule 5 Draft but did draft 3 players in the AAA phase. Peter Solomon appeared in 5 games last season for the Diamondbacks but struggled to a 12.15 ERA in 13.1 IP. Solomon elected minor league free agency this offseason and has yet to sign elsewhere.
Taylor Rashi is a forgotten name who could really re-emerge in 2024. Rashi in 2022 had an intriguing 52 K’s in 35 IP for Giants AA team, but missed most of 2022 on the 60 Day IL. Rashi did finish the year healthy, so keep an eye on him this season.
Denny Larrondo is only 21 and was able to be stashed down to A ball last season. 68 K’s in 61 IP is solid, 4.20 ERA in rookie ball.
Justin Lewis is a 6’7 RHP the Guardians drafted but he appeared in just 2 innings last season due to injury. He’s still with the Guardians organization for 2024.
2023
MLB: Lost 3B Deyvison De Los Santos
AAA: Drafted RHP Darlin Pinales, 2B Andy Weber, RHP John Matthews, Lost C Luis Caicuto and 1B Seth Beer
Deyvison De Los Santos is the only prospect the Dbacks lose in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft. I’m surprised by the pick as DDLS was pretty meh in AA last year (.728 OPS), a lot of pop in that bat though at just 20 years old, but I have him as their #17 prospect (see full prospect rankings here). De Los Santos has a lot of swing and miss in his game, but the Guardians need power and corner infield help. I think he gets returned to the Diamondbacks this Spring.
RHP Darlin Pinales, 21, is drafted away from the Dodgers. Big 6’4 240 ibs RHP who had a 2.63 ERA in ‘22 (41 IP 42 K) but tough ‘23 (9.16 ERA, 38.1 IP, 47 K’s, 45 BB’s). I’d imagine he must have electric stuff and zero control.
2B Andy Weber is from the Cubs. He hit .237 last year but .300 in 2022 (both seasons in AA). Left handed bat, going to get a chance to get his bat back on track in Reno.
RHP John Matthews is from the Rangers. Between Rk/AA 47.2 IP 7.55 ERA 50 K 35 BB last season. He was an 8th round pick in 2019.
The Diamondbacks lost C Luis Caicuto in the 2nd round of the AAA Rule 5 Draft, went 2 for 27 in rookie league last year, will be 21 this season.
And to close out the Rule 5 Draft history we have Seth Beer. Seth Beer’s Opening Day walk off will never be forgotten, but he never hit another homer after that. Struggled in AAA too, got DFA’d and sent down to AA. Beer will get a chance to rebuild his career with the Pirates, but he needs to get his power back as a 1B/DH type player.
The Rule 5 Draft is the ultimate lottery ticket. In 25+ years there’s really 2 legit MLB players that successfully moved teams in Dan Uggla and Brad Keller. The Diamondbacks dodged a bullet in keeping Ender Inciarte when the Phillies offered him back. The best Rule 5 pick for the Diamondbacks actually came from the AAA phase in Tyler Gilbert.
I hope you enjoyed the very obscure Diamondbacks Rule 5 player history. Please make sure to subscribe to get all my posts emailed directly to you! Plenty of random Diamondbacks history will be posted on here!