The Washington Nationals decided they couldn’t afford to keep Rule 5 pick Evan Reifert on the active roster. Today they announced they will be sending the right-handed pitcher back to the Tampa Bay Rays, clearing up a 40 man roster spot.
Reifert had a strong 2024 campaign in Double-A for the Rays, leading the Nats to select him in the Rule 5 draft. However, he walked 12 batters in 6.1 innings this spring. The Nationals decided they couldn’t waste a roster spot on a guy with that kind of control.
Rule 5 selections have to be on the big league roster for an entire season, or else they have to be sent back to their original team.