2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft: Full results as A’s take Yankees P Mitch Spence with first pick

Two New York Yankees pitchers went Nos. 1 and 2 in Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, as the Oakland A’s selected right-hander Mitch Spence and the Kansas City Royals poached righty Matt Sauer.

There were just 10 selections total in the major-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. Players selected in the major-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft must remain on their selecting team’s 26-man roster for the entire 2024 season or be offered back to their original team for a fee.

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The first six teams made selections, and the Los Angeles Angels were the first team to pass.

Spence, 25, was a starter with Triple-A last season. His fastball reportedly sits in the low 90s. He posted a 4.47 ERA last year over 163 innings. He struck out 153 batters and walked 53. Sauer, 24, had a 3.42 ERA in 68 1/3 innings at Double-A Somerset last year, striking out 83 and walking 29.

The first non-pitcher taken was shortstop Nasim Nuñez — the No. 5 pick by the Washington Nationals. Nuñez, 23, was the Miami Marlins’ No. 16 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, which wrote that he was the best defensive shortstop taken in the 2019 draft. He signed with Miami for $2.2 million, but will now get a shot in D.C.

The full list of players selected:

1. A’s: Mitch Spence, RHP, Yankees
2. Royals: Matt Sauer, RHP, Yankees
3. Rockies: Anthony Molina, RHP, Rays
4. White Sox: Shane Drohan, LHP, Red Sox
5. Nationals: Nasim Nuñez, SS, Marlins
6. Cardinals: Ryan Fernandez, RHP, Red Sox
7. Angels: Pass
8. Mets: Justin Slaten, RHP, Rangers
9. Pirates: Pass
10. Guardians: Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, Diamondbacks
11. Tigers: Pass
12. Red Sox: Pass
13. Giants: Pass
14. Reds: Pass
15. Padres: Stephen Kolek, RHP, Mariners
16. Yankees: Pass
17. Cubs: Pass
18. Marlins: Pass
19. Diamondbacks: Pass
20. Twins: Pass
21. Mariners: Pass
22. Blue Jays: Pass
23. Rangers: Carson Coleman, RHP, Yankees

The remaining teams (Phillies, Astros, Brewers, Rays, Dodgers, Orioles and Braves) passed on their picks.

GO DEEPER

MLB Rule 5 Draft: What is it? When is it? Why is it important?

Last season, 15 players were selected in the major-league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Ryan Noda, the second pick in last year’s draft, was the most productive player from the group, posting a 2.3 bWAR season for the A’s, with 16 home runs and a .770 OPS in 406 at-bats.

The major-league portion was followed by the minor-league Rule 5 Draft. Players in the minor-league portion can be stashed on any minor-league roster in their new organization for the 2024 season.

There were 63 players selected in total during the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, with 25 selections in the first round. One of the teams to pass was the A’s — the first team to have a selection. The Pirates poached Seth Beer, a 2018 first-round pick, in the second round of the minor league Rule 5 Draft. He was with the Diamondbacks, where he spent parts of two seasons on the major-league team.

The full minor-league results can be found here.

(Photo: Erica Denhoff / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)