The interest generated by Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 draft is a testament to the intensity of its fans, as it is largely an exercise in mid-range prospects changing hands. That said, each year teams strike on successful big leaguers, and the performance of Rule 5 picks seems to have trended up in recent history. The 2019 draft, which will take place on December 12 at the upcoming Winter Meetings, will mirror the order of the June 2020 draft, so the Marlins hold the third overall pick.
For those unfamiliar, the Rule 5 draft allows teams to select players who have been signed for 4-5 seasons, depending on their age at signing, who have not been placed on their club’s 40-man roster.