Photo by Ed Delany, MMN
The 2020 MLB Rule 5 draft is coming up on Thursday. In the 2019 Rule 5 draft, 11 players were selected in the Major League phase of the draft.
This year’s draft is expected to be different than that of past years as there was no minor league season in 2020, which didn’t allow many potential Rule 5 eligible players to play this season; and many clubs have much lower budgets due to income loss from COVID-19.
However, many minor league players did participate in alternating training site workouts and instructional leagues this past October. With draftees in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft costing $100,000, it is expected that most clubs will focus more on the minor league portion of the draft, where players only cost $24,500 and no further roster requirements.
Baseball America took a look at 50 players in their preview that they believe could be drafted, including three players from the Mets. Marcel Renteria, Michel Otanez, and Shervyen Newton are mentioned as potential picks from the Mets system.
Marcel Renteria/Photo by Ed Delany, MMN
Renteria is a 26-year old right-handed pitcher out of New Mexico State. Renteria spent the 2019 season between Class-A St. Lucie, and Double-A Binghamton. He was drafted out of New Mexico State as a starter, but came out of the bullpen as a reliever in 2019.
Renteria was 1-4 in 2019 between St. Lucie and Binghamton. He struck out 65, giving up just six walks over the course of 63.1 innings pitched. He had a 4.55 ERA at the end of the 2019 season. At instructional league this past October, Renteria was throwing up to 99 mph and showing off a strong hard slider.
Otanez is a 23-year old right-handed pitcher who the Mets signed out of free agency in 2016. Otanez spent the 2019 season between rookie level Kingsport and the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was 4-3 in 2019, accumulating 70 strikeouts over the course of 63 innings pitched. He had an overall ERA of 3.14 in 2019.
Otanez averages 95 mph, but can reach as high as 97 mph on his fastball. He also tends to get “slurvy” as Baseball America calls it, due to a stiff arm action and inconsistent release. Otanez missed instructional league in October due to unspecified Covid-19 related reasons.
Newton is a 6’ 4”, 21-year old shortstop and second baseman from Tilburg, Netherlands. The Mets signed Newton as an international free agent back in 2015. He spent the 2019 season with the Columbia Fireflies. The switch-hitter slashed .209/.283/.330 with 15 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 32 RBI, and 37 walks in 2019.
The youngsters downfalls include pitch recognition and he’s had trouble staying healthy, however he has raw power that attracts scouts with great range from shortstop.
The Rule 5 Draft, happening over a conference call, will take place at 12 p.m. ET this Thursday.
