The 2025 Rule 5 Draft has thrown a fresh lifeline to 13 prospects, giving them their strongest chance yet to prove themselves on a big-league stage. Across 13 players—12 right-handed pitchers and one catcher—the draft paves new paths for those who weren’t protected on the 40-man roster, inviting them to earn a 2026 spot on a Major League roster or remain active for 90 days around any injured list stint to stay in their new organization.
This is a direct shot at the majors for players who had been largely blocked in the minors, and the ripple effects touch several MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospect lists. We’ll refresh those Top 30s in full before the 2026 season, but here’s a snapshot of how the latest Rule 5 selections shifted the landscape, with additions and substitutions to the lists:
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Red Sox
Lost: Jedixson Paez, RHP (No. 19)
Top 30 replacement: Tyler Uberstine, RHP (No. 30)
Boston did not protect Paez after a right calf strain limited him to seven High-A Greenville starts (19 1/3 innings). The 21-year-old right-hander is noted for elite control but will jump multiple levels after heading to Chicago, gaining experience at Double-A and Triple-A for the first time. Uberstine, 26, had been protected by Boston with a 40-man spot in November. His story is compelling: a pitcher who was cut from a USC club team as a freshman, yet he sits 92-94 mph with a deceptive near-sidearm delivery that helps his fastball play up. He could factor into Boston’s starting depth in 2026.
Yankees
Added: Cade Winquest, RHP (No. 30)
The Yankees entered the offseason with a crowded 40-man roster and hadn’t taken a Rule 5 pick since 2011 until Winquest drew their interest. The 2025 season saw him post a 3.99 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 106 innings across High-A and Double-A. His best offering is an upper-70s curveball with big break, complemented by a mid-90s fastball and a low-80s slider that can flash average. With their farm system trimmed by trades, the Yankees will hope to extract another above-average look from Winquest during spring camp in Tampa and possibly in the Bronx later on.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians
Added: Peyton Pallette, RHP (No. 19)
A 2022 second-round pick from Arkansas, Pallette won’t have far to travel, staying within the division after being selected by Cleveland as the ninth pick in this year’s Rule 5 Draft. The 6-foot-1 right-hander moved to a bullpen role in 2025 and finished with a 4.06 ERA, 86 strikeouts, and a .191 opponent average in 64 1/3 innings over the top two Minor League levels. He sits 94-96 mph with a high-spin curve and a whiff-heavy changeup (50.8% whiff rate at Charlotte). His four-seamer can be vulnerable to lefties, so it’ll be interesting to see how Cleveland uses his arsenal going forward.
Tigers
Lost: RJ Petit, RHP (No. 30)
Top 30 replacement: Eduardo Valencia, 1B/C (No. 23)
The Tigers didn’t shield Petit last offseason, and this time they weren’t able to keep him, as he went first overall to Colorado. Valencia—added to the 40-man roster in November—slides into the Top 30 in his place. Valencia enjoyed a breakout in 2025, hitting .311/.382/.559 with 24 homers in 103 games across Double-A and Triple-A, with his strongest numbers coming at the higher level. If he can refine his bat path and contact angles, he might hit for both average and power in the majors, though his defensive position remains uncertain.
White Sox
Added: Jedixson Paez, RHP (No. 15); Alexander Alberto, RHP (No. 21)
Lost: Peyton Pallette, RHP (No. 14)
After winning the MLB Draft Lottery, the White Sox continued shaking up their prospect landscape at the Winter Meetings. Paez is an upside pick who will turn 22 next January, showing solid control (15 walks in 116 innings over the past two seasons) and a pair of promising pitches in a 79-81 mph slider and a mid-80s changeup. Getting a player with little upper-level experience to stick will be challenging, but Chicago’s rebuild might still offer Paez a path into future rotations. Alberto, another high-upside arm, lacks Double-A/Triple-A time but relies on a 96-98 mph heater (with occasional 101 mph reads) and a mid-80s sweeping slider. At 6-foot-8, his extension is impressive, though commanding his body to throw strikes at the MLB level remains a hurdle.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Athletics
Lost: Daniel Susac, C (No. 11)
Top 30 replacement: Darwing Ozuna, OF (No. 30)
The A’s broke a streak of selecting or acquiring Rule 5 players in the Major League phase dating back to 2019 by losing Susac. Susac, a catcher with pop and solid receiving skills, was dealt to the Giants via the Twins. Ozuna, ranked No. 16 on MLB Pipeline’s 2025 international prospects list, slots in as his replacement. The 6-foot-3 outfielder signed for $850,000 in January and showed patience to develop, despite a sluggish rookie run in the Dominican Summer League. He profiles as a prototypical right fielder with a strong arm and raw power potential.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Nationals
Added: Griff McGarry, RHP (No. 30)
Washington’s new front office kept things interesting by adding a top-tier arm from within the division. McGarry’s struggles with control in 2024 (including a notable 24.5% walk rate as a Triple-A reliever) were tempered in 2025 when he returned to a starting role. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and can reach the upper 90s, with a high-utility vertical approach angle. His low-80s sweeper can flash as a plus-plus pitch. The Nationals, still finalizing their plan on whether he’ll be a starter or a reliever, have a versatile asset in McGarry.
Phillies
Added: Zach McCambley, RHP (No. 30)
McCambley wasn’t in Philadelphia’s Top 30 before the Rule 5 Draft, so his addition marks a bold move to pluck him from the Marlins. At 26, he has pitched mostly as a reliever since 2023, compiling a 2.90 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 62 innings at the higher Minor League levels in 2025. His slider is a hard, glove-side weapon around 83-85 mph, and his cutter sits 88-91 mph to complement it. Making the Phillies’ bullpen in a competitive environment will be a challenge, but the talent is intriguing.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
Giants
Added: Daniel Susac, C (No. 15)
Susac’s journey saw him start with the Twins as a Rule 5 pick before being dealt to San Francisco in exchange for DSL catcher Miguel Caraballo. While he may not be the outright star defender behind the plate alongside Patrick Bailey, Susac has shown MLB-readiness by hitting .275/.349/.483 with a career-high 18 homers in 97 Triple-A games last season. His improved receiving should help him handle an MLB staff, and his strong arm could help him carve out a role if he keeps improving his contact approach.
Rockies
Added: RJ Petit, RHP (No. 26)
At 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds, Petit presents a formidable physical profile for Colorado. He posted a 2.44 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings across the top two Minor League levels this season but didn’t crack the Tigers’ bullpen. He’s a good fit for Denver with an 83-85 mph gyro slider that drops on contact, plus a fastball that can reach 98 mph. There’s limited upside, but his current stuff and control may make him a reliable NL West bulk reliever right away.
Bottom line: the Rule 5 Draft gave 13 players a fresh chance to prove themselves in the majors, reshaping several teams’ prospect inventories and setting the stage for intriguing spring competitions. Which of these moves do you find most impactful, and do you think any of these players are destined to become breakout contributors in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments.
