In today's Rule 5 draft, the Phillies selected two players within the Major League phase, from the Rangers and the Pirates. If chosen in the Rule 5 draft, a player must be kept on the selecting team's 25-man major league roster for the entire season after the draft—he may not be optioned or designated to the minors. The selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. If a Rule 5 draftee clears waivers by not signing with a new MLB team, he must be offered back to the original team, effectively canceling the Rule 5 draft choice. Once a Rule 5 draftee spends an entire season on his new team's 25-man roster, his status reverts to normal and he may be optioned or designated for assignment.
Their first pick came 9th overall as the Phils went with INF/OF Odubel Herrera from the Rangers organization. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Rangers back in July of 2008 and spent a majority of his time with the Frisco Roughriders, the Rangers Double-A affiliate. In 96 games, Herrera hit .321 with a .771 OPS, en route to the Texas League Batting Title. He also spent 29 games this year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Advanced A affiliate of the Rangers. He hit .297 there with a .412 OBP. ESPN's Jayson Stark notes Herrera's offensive skills and how he could be in the Phillies center field plans this year. If so, then where does that leave Ben Revere?
One scout says #Phillies 1st-round Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera "can really hit." Raw defensively but big-league ready bat in LF or 2B
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 11, 2014
#Phillies now saying they plan to play Herrera in CF. Could easily be starting CF
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 11, 2014
In the second round, the Phillies picked LHP Andy Oliver from the Pirates Triple-A club. This year for Indianapolis, Oliver posted a 2.53 ERA over 64 innings out of the bullpen, saving 13 games in 16 opportunities while holding hitters to a .157 average. According to a staff writer for Baseball America, Oliver hasn't been consistent enough in the strike zone.
PHI: Andrew Oliver, LHP, Pirates. Hard-throwing LHP has never thrown enough strikes to succeed.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) December 11, 2014
In the Triple-A phase of the draft, the Phillies lose three players. The first was Delvi Francisco, who pitched in Lakewood and Williamsport this season and posted a 7.44 ERA in 52 innings. The Phillies also lost outfielder Peter Lavin to the Dodgers. Lavin, 26, hit .287 this season between Clearwater and Reading. Finally, the Rockies took right-hander Kyle Simon from the Phils. Known as possibly the guy with the best mustache in the minors, Simon was acquired from Baltimore in the Jim Thome trade. This season between Reading and Lehigh Valley, Simon posted a 3.93 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 75.2 innings of work.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
