The Rule 5 Draft, scheduled for Wednesday at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, is drawing attention as teams and agents begin to discuss which unprotected minor league players might be selected. The annual draft allows clubs to select eligible players from other organizations who are not on their team’s 40-man roster and have met certain service time requirements.
Among the prospects being discussed this year is Griff McGarry, a right-handed pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies system. McGarry has been noted for his impressive pitching arsenal since his college days at Stanford. His fastball averages 94 mph and can reach the upper 90s, while his slider generated a 52 percent miss rate in 2025 according to Synergy data. Although command has been an issue throughout his career, McGarry made progress this season after moving back into a starting role with the Phillies, posting a career-low walk rate of 5.3 per nine innings.
Other notable names include Cameron Cauley of the Texas Rangers, whose speed and defensive versatility could make him attractive; Christian Cerda of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hit 18 home runs last season; and Will Childers of the Milwaukee Brewers, who held hitters to a .176 average while touching 99 mph with his fastball.
Pitchers Hayden Mullins (Red Sox), Samy Natera Jr. (Angels), RJ Petit (Tigers), José Rodríguez (Dodgers), Alimber Santa (Astros), Tyler Stuart (Nationals), Daniel Susac (A’s) and Ryan Watson (Giants) also appear on early watch lists compiled by MLB Pipeline staff based on input from teams and agents.
The Rule 5 Draft provides opportunities for players like these to earn spots on Major League rosters if selected by another club willing to keep them active throughout the season or risk losing them back to their original organization.
The event will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET as part of ongoing activities at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Orlando.
