2025 Rule 5 Draft: Top Candidate From Each MLB Club

The 2025 MLB Rule 5 Draft is shaping up as one of those classic baseball gambles: a blend of raw upside, role-player utility, and long-shot projects. Front offices hope someone from this group might turn into the next hidden gem.

Clubs are scouring the minor leagues for undervalued assets. This year’s pool features power arms, intriguing bats, and versatile defenders—all left off the 40-man roster, now just one pick away from a shot at the big leagues.

Understanding the 2025 MLB Rule 5 Draft Landscape

The Rule 5 Draft exists to keep organizations from stashing too much talent in the minors without giving players a fair shot at the majors. Eligibility hinges on a player’s age at signing and years of service.

If a player’s been in the system long enough but isn’t on the 40-man roster, he’s fair game for other clubs. The drafting team has to keep the player on its active roster all season or offer him back, so every pick is a calculated risk.

In practice, front offices aren’t just hunting for stars. They’re searching for players who can actually survive a full season on a 26-man roster.

Some clubs want a breakout story, hoping for a Shane Smith-type rise from obscurity. Others just need a usable bullpen arm or bench piece to soak up innings, knowing most Rule 5 picks are short-term experiments.

High-Upside Position Players Headline the Field

Among the bats, Yohendrick Pinango of the Blue Jays stands out. The outfielder brings strong exit velocities and contact quality that makes evaluators perk up.

His profile suggests he can do real damage when he connects—a tempting asset for any club that wants thump in its lineup without a big financial commitment.

But there’s a trade-off with Pinango. His defensive limitations could restrict him to a corner outfield spot or even a more limited role, so his bat needs to carry the day.

Still, in a market where power is at a premium, he’s exactly the kind of offensive upside gamble a rebuilding club might want to try.

Pitching Prospects: Power Arms and Project Pieces

As usual, the Rule 5 pool is rich with arms—especially relievers—who could offer immediate impact if their stuff translates under the bright lights. Teams often use this draft to look for bullpen help, hoping a single plus pitch can play up in short stints.

Peyton Pallette and the High-Spin Curveball Crowd

The White Sox’s Peyton Pallette is one of the more notable pitchers available. He’s a high-spin curveball specialist with the kind of swing-and-miss pitch front offices crave in late-inning relievers.

His strikeout numbers in the minors back that up. Hitters just don’t see many breaking balls with that kind of snap and depth.

The big question is whether he can consistently command his stuff at the highest level. If a club believes it can sharpen his location and usage patterns, Pallette looks like a legitimate candidate to stick in a big league bullpen all year.

Logan Workman, Hayden Mullins, and the Depth Arms

Logan Workman of the Rays is a different archetype. He’s a durable arm with solid peripherals and enough polish to potentially cover multiple innings.

He doesn’t have the most electric arsenal, but his reliability and ability to handle volume make him appealing for teams managing fragile rotations or overworked bullpens.

On the other side is Red Sox left-hander Hayden Mullins. Mullins brings swing-and-miss stuff, which always catches attention in this draft.

But control concerns could limit how aggressively teams pursue him. For a club confident it can refine mechanics, Mullins might turn from a wild-card pickup into a valuable left-handed weapon.

Big Frames, Big Stuff: Harrison Cohen and RJ Petit

The Yankees’ Harrison Cohen brings an intriguing pitching arsenal to the table. He’s got enough raw tools that you can picture him in a leverage role if everything clicks.

The Tigers’ towering RJ Petit—a massive 6-foot-8 presence—offers a unique look and a slider that generates notable whiffs. For clubs trying to disrupt hitters with different angles and release points, Petit’s profile is especially attractive.

Versatility and Speed: The Utility Market

Position players who can fill multiple roles often become Rule 5 darlings. With roster spots at a premium, managers value players who bring defensive flexibility and baserunning value, even if their bats are still developing.

Javi Vaz and Cameron Cauley: Swiss Army Knives in Cleats

Kansas City’s Javi Vaz and Texas’ Cameron Cauley fit this category. Both offer speed and defensive flexibility, traits that can earn them a spot on a bench even if they’re not ready to hit in the middle of an order.

These are the types who can pinch run, handle multiple positions, and keep a roster functioning over the grind of 162 games. For contending clubs chasing incremental edges, having a player who can shift around the diamond while impacting the running game really does matter—especially with modern usage patterns and tighter benches.

Raw Talent, Injuries, and the Risk Factor

Not every name in the Rule 5 pool is major-league ready. Some are pure projection plays—arms and bats with tools that haven’t yet turned into consistent performance.

These are the ultimate gambles, but sometimes they provide the biggest payoff if development suddenly accelerates.

Alimber Santa, Michael Morales, and Tyler Stuart

Houston’s Alimber Santa and Seattle’s Michael Morales fit the mold of pitchers with potential but command or consistency hurdles. Their arsenals have enough promise to interest evaluators, but the lack of steady execution makes it tough to pencil them into a guaranteed big league role.

A team might stash one in a low-leverage bullpen spot, hoping the game slows down over the season. Then there’s Nationals right-hander Tyler Stuart, who’s working his way back from injury.

His appeal lies in the raw tools that made him notable before health issues. For a patient club willing to manage workload and accept early bumps, Stuart could be a sneaky upside play if he regains his old form.

What to Expect From the 2025 Rule 5 Draft

The Rule 5 Draft is really more about possibilities than guarantees. Most picks won’t stick long-term, and a lot of them end up back with their original teams after a short look.

This year’s class has some interesting arms and a few multi-role position players. That’s enough to keep front offices paying attention, even if the odds aren’t great.

Some of these names will just fade back into the minor-league routine. But a couple might actually carve out real roles—maybe even become the next Rule 5 success story that everyone’s chasing in 2026.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Here are 30 Rule 5 candidates — one from each club