Tigers Select Reyes With First Pick Of Rule 5 Draft

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Most of the big deals had already been consummated, but before the Winter Meetings could truly close up shop there was one more bit of business to take care of: The Rule 5 Draft. The top candidates had been known for weeks, especially if you read BA’s many iterations of preview article, but this was the moment of truth.

And with the first pick, the Tigers selected Diamondbacks outfielder Victor Reyes, who hit .292/.332/.399 with four home runs and 18 stolen bases this year at Double-A Jackson. He worked hard on his reads and jumps in the Arizona Fall League, where he swiped

Each major league pick cost a team $100,000, while a pick in the minor league phase cost $24,000.

After Reyes was selected, the Draft returned to the popular theme of hard-throwers, with the Giants and Phillies selected two 100 mph club members in the Rockies Julian Fernandez and the Twins’ Nick Burdi. The White Sox followed with Phillies outfielder Carlos Tocci.

The Mets then popped Rays’ starter Burch Smith before the Braves went back to the flamethrower well with Yankees righty Anyelo Gomez. The Yankees were raided in the first round, losing lefty Nestor Cortes to the Orioles and first baseman Mike Ford to the Mariners. The Orioles also took Jose Mesa Jr. from the Yankees in the third round.

The Astros pulled perhaps the most interesting pick of the proceedings when they took Anthony Gose, the journeyman outfielder turned lefthanded pitcher who spent the year with high Class A Lakeland and went 0-2, 7.59 with 14 Ks in 10.2 innings. He touched 100 mph with his fastball but has little pitching experience and could serve as two-way talent with the Astros.

In all, 18 players were selected in four rounds of the major league phase.