Every Rule 5 Draft pick in Orioles history

More than most teams, the Orioles love participating in the Rule 5 Draft. From 2006-20, not a year went by without the O’s making at least one selection, a stretch that stood out as one of the most active in recent memory.

Some of those picks turned into longtime regulars, while others never reached the Majors.

Here are all the players the Orioles selected in the Rule 5 Draft since 1960:

2022: Red Sox RHP Andrew Politi
A 15th-round pick in the 2018 Draft, Politi reached Triple-A for the first time in '22, when he posted a 2.41 ERA in 38 outings for Worcester. However, the righty did not make Baltimore's 2023 Opening Day roster and was returned to Boston at the end of Spring Training that year.

? History of the Rule 5 Draft

2020: Reds RHP Mac Sceroler
Sceroler, a fifth-round pick in the 2017 Draft, made the Orioles' Opening Day roster in '21 and recorded a 14.09 ERA over five relief appearances. He was designated for assignment in June, when he was returned to the Reds.

2020: Twins RHP Tyler Wells
Wells was a 15th-round pick of the Twins in '16, out of Cal State San Bernardino. The right-hander stuck with the O's and became a key member of their pitching staff, recording a 4.06 ERA in 95 games (46 starts) from 2021-24.

2019: Astros RHP Brandon Bailey
Bailey was returned to the Astros without playing any games for Baltimore, making five relief appearances as a rookie for Houston in 2020.

2019: Cubs RHP Michael Rucker
Rucker was returned to the Cubs before the start of the 2020 season, never appearing in a game for the Orioles.

2018: A’s SS Richie Martin
Martin hit .208 with a .581 OPS in his rookie season as the O's starting shortstop in 2019. He missed all of '20 with a broken right wrist, then played in 50 games across the '21 and '22 seasons.

2017: Yankees LHP Nestor Cortes
Cortes was returned to New York after four appearances with Baltimore in 2018, before he was traded by the Yankees to Seattle for cash in '19. Cortes returned to the Yanks via free agency in '21, then became an All-Star in '22.

2017: Cubs RHP Pedro Araujo
Araujo pitched to a 8.16 ERA in 21 games across two seasons before he was returned to Chicago days before Rule 5 eligibility expired in 2019.

2017: Yankees RHP Jose Mesa Jr.
Mesa never appeared in a game for the Orioles.

2016: Red Sox OF Aneury Tavárez
Tavárez never appeared in the Majors.

2016: Cleveland OF Anthony Santander
Santander overcame injuries early in his MLB career to blossom into a top run producer for the O's, hitting 154 homers with a .786 OPS in 700 games from 2019-24. He was a first-time All-Star and Silver Slugger in '24, when he belted a career-high 44 home runs.

2015: Rays OF Joey Rickard
Rickard hit .245 with 19 homers and a .671 OPS over parts of four seasons as a useful fourth outfielder for the Orioles.

2014: Mets RHP Logan Verrett
Verrett was returned to the Mets before Opening Day 2015, pitching to a 4.65 ERA from ’15-16 as a swingman for the Mets and Rangers. Verrett joined the Orioles to make four relief appearances in '17, his last in the Majors.

2013: Red Sox 3B Michael Almanzar
Almanzar never appeared in the Majors.

2012: Cleveland LHP T.J. McFarland
McFarland spent four seasons with Baltimore as a useful left-handed reliever, eventually pitching 12 MLB seasons for the O’s, D-backs, A’s, Cardinals and Mets.

2011: Cubs INF Ryan Flaherty
The versatile Flaherty proved indispensable in utility roles for Orioles playoff teams of the mid-2010s, eventually playing eight seasons for the O’s, Braves and Cleveland.

2010: Brewers RHP Adrian Rosario
Rosario never appeared in the Majors.

2009: Giants LHP Ben Snyder
Snyder never appeared in the Majors.

2008: Brewers C Lou Palmisano
Palmisano never played for the Orioles.

2007: Tigers RHP Randor Bierd
Bierd posted a 4.91 ERA in 29 relief appearances in 2008 before the Orioles traded him to the Red Sox. Bierd never appeared in the Majors again.

2006: Rangers RHP Alfredo Simon
Simon struggled (5.18 ERA in184 1/3 innings) over parts of four seasons as the sometimes-closer with Baltimore before turning into an effective setup man and then an All-Star starter later in his career with the Reds.

2004: Cubs LHP Luke Hagerty
Hagerty never pitched for the Orioles and he did not reach the Majors. In 2019, Hagerty was eyeing a comeback, but he was eventually shut down after undergoing elbow surgery.

2003: Pirates 3B José Bautista
The O’s let Bautista be claimed off waivers by the Rays after 16 games, then they watched as he bounced around baseball for several years before blossoming into one of the game’s best sluggers with Toronto in 2010.

2000: Blue Jays 1B Jay Gibbons
Gibbons became an Orioles fixture for nearly a decade, averaging 17 homers and 58 RBIs a year from 2001-07.

1996: Blue Jays P Tom Davey
Davey was returned to Toronto before Opening Day and he made 114 relief appearances for the Blue Jays, Mariners and Padres from 1999-02.

1996: Braves 3B James Magee
Magee never reached the Majors.

1995: Twins OF Kimera Bartee
Bartee was selected off waivers by Detroit in Spring Training and he played parts of six seasons for the Tigers, Reds and Rockies as a bench player.

1994: A’s RHP Russ Brock
Brock never pitched for the Orioles or in the Majors.

1992: Yankees OF Sherman Obando
Obando hit .269 with three homers and 18 RBIs over parts of two seasons as a bench option for the Orioles, then he hit .222 with 10 homers and a .713 OPS from 1996-97 with the Expos.

1991: Padres OF Darrell Sherman
Sherman was returned to San Diego prior to Opening Day and played in 37 games in 1993 for the Padres.

1989: Reds INF Marty Brown
Brown hit .200 across nine games for Baltimore in 1990, his last year in the Majors.

1988: Reds RHP Mike Smith
Smith pitched to an 8.22 ERA in 15 games for Baltimore from 1989-90.

1987: Mets RHP José Bautista
Not to be confused with Joey Bats, Bautista went 6-15 with a 4.30 ERA in 33 games (25 starts) as a rookie in 1988, pitching in a swingman capacity for the O’s through ’91. Bautista then produced five seasons as a durable reliever for the Cubs, Giants, Tigers and Cardinals.

1977: Cardinals RHP Andy Replogle
Replogle never pitched for the Orioles.

1976: Dodgers OF Mike Dimmel
After 33 unremarkable games, the Orioles traded Dimmel to the Cardinals for productive role player Benny Ayala in 1979.

1972: Reds RHP Mike Johnson
Johnson did not pitch for the Orioles.

1969: Yankees OF Tom Shopay
The speedy reserve outfielder spent parts of five seasons with the O’s, appearing briefly in the 1971 World Series.

1968: Giants LHP Larry Miller
Miller never pitched for the Orioles.

1967: Angels C/1B Elrod Hendricks
This transaction sparked what would become Hendricks’ 37-year connection with the Orioles, for whom he played 11 seasons with before spending a franchise-record 28 more as bullpen coach.

1966: Red Sox C L. Owen Johnson
Johnson never reached the Majors.

1965: Cardinals RHP Moe Drabowsky
Rule 5 Draft eligibility rules were different then; the O’s drafted Drabowsky at the midway point of his 17-year MLB career. He’s still remembered for starring in the 1966 World Series.

1965: Dodgers RHP Gene Brabender
The righty had a three-year stint with the Orioles, going 16-14 with a 3.39 ERA in 82 games (30 starts). Brabender left Baltimore with a ring as a member of the 1966 championship team.

1963: Brewers OF Lou Jackson
The reserve outfielder went 3-for-8 in four games for the Orioles in 1964.

1962: Giants OF Dave May
The future slugger played parts of four unremarkable seasons for the Orioles before being traded to the Brewers in 1970. May blossomed into an All-Star in Milwaukee and was later traded for Hank Aaron.

1962: Mets OF Paul Blair
One of the most successful Rule 5 Draft picks ever, Blair developed into an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, a two-time All-Star and he won four World Series championships, including two with Baltimore.

1962: Twins OF Roger Sorenson
Sorenson never reached the Majors.

1961: Yankees LHP Billy Short
Short pitched in 11 games for the Orioles in 1962 and ’66, posting a combined 4.10 ERA.

1961: Cardinals C Ozzie Virgil
The first Dominican born player to play in the Major Leagues, Virgil is best known for his years with the New York and San Francisco Giants. He appeared in one game for the Orioles in ’62.

1961: Braves RHP Steve Cosgrove
Cosgrove did not pitch in the Majors.

1960: Tigers C Hank Foiles
The journeyman catcher hit six homers for the Orioles in 1961, his only season with Baltimore.

1960: Pirates C Dave Massarelli
Massarelli did not reach the Majors.