4 pitchers the Phillies might take a chance on in the Rule 5 Draft
Some intriguing arms are available in this year's Rule 5 Draft at the MLB Winter Meetings.
![There are some pitchers the Philadelphia Phillies might be interested in picking in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4302,h_2419,x_967,y_1934/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/6/01hgh9hnqdz75yes7p7a.jpg)
The MLB Winter Meetings are underway in Nashville, Tenn., which means the Rule 5 Draft is almost here. This year's draft takes place on Dec. 6, and every team will have the opportunity to pluck unprotected players from other clubs, both at the major league and minor league level. It doesn't mean that every team will.
In the Rule 5 Draft, teams can select eligible non-40-man roster players from other organizations for $100,000 and place them on their own 40-man roster. These selections must be assigned to the drafting team's 26-man roster and remain there for the season or be offered back to their original team, who may or may not take them.
The Phillies famously offered Rule 5 pick Shane Victorino back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers didn't want him, so he remained in the Phillies' minor leagues before eventually winning the World Series in 2008.
Last year, 14 players were taken in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, with eight getting time in the majors. The Philadelphia Phillies took a chance on right-hander Noah Song from the Boston Red Sox. After starting on the military list, it didn't work out for Song with Philadelphia, and the Phillies sent him back to Boston in August.
This year, the Phillies opted not to protect any players from the Rule 5 Draft, but that doesn't mean they won't look for hidden value among the weeds of other organizations. With few openings among non-pitcher positions, it makes sense that the Phillies may look for pitching talent.
So, what arms are available in this year's Rule 5 Draft that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld might take a flyer on? Here are four intriguing names that were left unprotected.
Matt Sauer, RHP, New York Yankees
New York Yankees No. 25 prospect Matt Sauer has primarily been a starter, but there's no reason his stuff wouldn't play out of the bullpen. A 2017 second-round draft pick, Sauer's progression has been hampered by injuries, per MLB.com, including Tommy John surgery in 2019 and two months on the IL with a forearm strain this season.
The 24-year-old right-hander has a riding 93-95 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider, which he used to put together a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings at Double-A this season. Sauer threw 10 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League but didn't fair quite as well in that hitter-friendly environment. He recorded 18 strikeouts but finished with a 5.91 ERA.
NEXT: Three more intriguing pitchers in this year's Rule 5 Draft.
Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHP, Texas Rangers
Right-handed reliever Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa hasn't faced very much advanced competition but excelled when he did this year in the Arizona Fall League.
The 23-year-old out of Hawaii only got as high as High-A during the regular season. Per MLB.com, he only pitched the second half of the season after dealing with non-structural shoulder issues in the first half. He pitched to a 2.96 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 25 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings out of the bullpen across three levels.
Hoopii-Tuionetoa's 94-99 mph fastball and hard slider make him intriguing. He used those offerings to record a 0.00 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings of relief work in the AFL. And we know how much Dombrowski and the Phillies love velocity in the bullpen, via Matt Gelb of The Athletic (subscription required).
Tyler Owens, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Tyler Owens, Atlanta Braves No. 26 prospect, is another arm with plenty of velocity to entice the Phillies. The 22-year-old pitched 65 1/3 innings between High- and Double-A this season, with a 3.03 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He spent time both as a starter and reliever.
According to MLB.com, the right-hander has a power repertoire, with a fastball up to 98 mph and a hard slider, that would be intriguing coming out of a big league bullpen.
"Strong, compact and athletic, Owens has always been a pitcher who has had a ton of arm strength," reads his Pipeline scouting report. "His stuff has ticked up as high as 98 mph as he has gotten accustomed to shorter stints. His slider has gotten a bit harder and sharper, with good short break, thrown in the low-to-mid-80s."
Ian Bedell, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals' No. 16 prospect Ian Bedell got his career back on track this season after Tommy John surgery in 2021, which forced him to miss most of 2022. The 2020 fourth-round pick only pitched in High-A this year but was impressive in his 96 innings. He had a 2.44 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and registered 106 strikeouts in 27 appearances (19 starts).
The 24-year-old righty can get his fastball into the upper 90s with good life up in the zone, and he showed a good curveball this year, per MLB.com. According to his Pipeline scouting report, Bedell also added a low-80s slider which helped him up his strikeouts. He may be too far away from the upper levels to have any takers in the Rule 5 Draft, but he remains an intriguing arm nonetheless.
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