Nats Restock with Seven in the Rule 5 Draft
The Rule 5 Draft has become a thing for the Nats in the 2020s
For the third time in five years, Washington has taken multiple players – one in the MLB phase, six in the minor league phase.As noted two years ago, many of these signings appear to be in lieu of signing free agent, which has become more difficult due to the 165/175-player limit on systems (reduced from 180/190).
Without further ado…
- RHP Griff McGarry (MLB phase, from PHI)
Spent most of the season at AA Reading, missing five weeks from mid-April to late May. Posted a line of 3.25/3.19/1.24 in 17GS with 12.9 K’s and 5.6 BB’s per 9IP - RHP Sandy Gaston (MiLB phase, from LAA)
Made 36 of his 38 relief appearances at High-A Tri-City in the Northwest League, with a 4.32/3.67/1.50 line and 11.6 K’s and 5.7 BB’s per 9IP - RHP Brady Hill (MiLB phase, from COL)
Made 41 relief appearances in his third season at Low-A Fresno in the California League, with a 6.11/4.29/1.77 and 12.8 K’s and 7.3 BB’s per 9IP - RHP Dylan Tebrake (MiLB phase, from NYM)
Has been beset by injuries but does not appear to have suffered Nationals elbow. Pitched four (4) innings last summer and did not pitch in 2024. - OF Jack Rogers (MilB, from CIN)
Split time between AA and AAA, hitting .253/.330/.357 with 4HR and 49RBI in 93G - RHP Eiker Huizi (MiLB, from SD)
Made 28 of his 31 appearances (three “starts” in the AZL) for High-A Fort Wayne in the Midwest League with a 6.27/4.43/1.63 mark for the TinCaps and 9.4 K’s and 5.1 BB’s per 9IP - RHP Cesar Rojas (MiLB, from TB)
Split time between the DSL, FCL, and reached Low-A for the first time at the age of 23. Has averaged 13.3 BB’s and 10.8 K’s per 9IP with a 7.97 ERA in 64⅓ IP in 49G since his pro debut in 2022
As a reminder, very few Rule 5 picks stick at the MLB level and most in the MiLB phase are roster-fillers, though two years ago Daison Acosta and Samuel Vasquez proved to be useful relief options for 2024 and 2025.
As always, feel free to discuss in the comments.
McGarry is just a clone of Clayton Beeter. They’re the same age (going into age 27 season), both 6’2″ and right handed, both have incredible “stuff” and therefore amazing K rates (from 2021-2025: Beeter: 13.02 K/9, McGarry: 13.17 K/9) but horrible command (Beeter: 5.14 BB/9, McGarry: 6.33 BB/9), 1.32 WHIP vs 1.34 WHIP, but McGarry was a bit unluckier (4.14 ERA) vs Beeter (3.68 ERA), because their FIPs were again identical (Beeter 3.91 vs McGarry 3.84). The biggest difference between the two is that McGarry got switched to relief in 2024, but the Phillies moved him back to the rotation in 2025, whereas Beeter got converted to the bullpen in 2025.
Really not seeing the reason for being interested in Hill, Huizi and Rojas, but hoping Toboni is cooking up some magic!
Great comp Will! FWIW, there are murmurs that Beeter may be the closer next season. He did better than expected for the Nats, but man, nothing is easy for Beeter.
Sorry if this was covered in a prior thread, but the Padres signed former Nats OF Nick Schnell. His ceiling is likely as a AAAA OF, but liked his tools.
Now we await the most important aspect of the new brass mindsets and philosophies which will be carried out by a re envisioned. Player development coach staffs . The hitting philosophies which hopefully will bring surges out if bats most notably TJ White or the recently signed Herrrera at Rochester ) AA probably bios landing spot )
How many repeat AA to start April ? King to AAA for 3-31 ?
BTW, Daison Acosta got a major league contract with the Padres.
Padres have thread of ole expo / Nats vibe
Luke you captured the true meaning of Rule 5 AAA portion in that stock photo
Ok , folks : I toss this assignment out on the table
Put together a package that Elias might discuss with Paul T on Gore
How many years since Gonzales for Ryan Minor ?? ( MTL- BAL)
I do have to laugh at the latest Nuke LaLoosh pick. Rizzo and his cronies were long infatuated with guys who could throw it through a wall, if they could actually hit the wall. We could go all the back to Henry Rodriguez and make a long list. We bring in a totally new group to run things, but they fixate on the same thing.
Obviously the Nats will use McGarry as a reliever. There’s no bull to hit, but Abe and Teddy had better stay alert.