Padres shield 3 top prospects, all pitchers, from Rule 5 Draft

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres added three Minor League pitchers to their 40-man roster on Tuesday, ahead of the deadline to protect prospects from next month's Rule 5 Draft.

Right-handers Henry Baez and Ryan Bergert and lefty Omar Cruz had their contracts selected, bringing the San Diego 40-man roster to 37 players. Per MLB Pipeline, Baez checks in as the team's No. 7 overall prospect. Cruz ranks 22nd and Bergert 25th.

What does it mean?

The Rule 5 Draft takes place each year at the Winter Meetings, with eligible prospects available to be selected by other clubs. Any club that makes a selection must keep that player on its big league roster for the entire season -- otherwise, that player must be offered back to his original club.

For example: A year ago, the Padres selected Stephen Kolek from Seattle. Kolek then spent the entire season with the big league club (including the final portion on the Major League IL). As a result, Kolek remains in the Padres' organization moving forward.

Baez was an obvious choice to have his contract selected, given his stature as a top-10 Padres prospect and his strong performance last season. Cruz and Bergert, meanwhile, were also viewed as candidates to be taken by other clubs at the Rule 5 Draft. The Padres' decision to add them to the 40-man roster ensures they will maintain all three as depth rotation options.

Who was left unprotected by the Padres?

Among MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Padres prospects, three players were left unprotected -- catcher Brandon Valenzuela (No. 12) and lefties Jagger Haynes (No. 20) and Jayvien Sandridge (No. 21).

Haynes, who has only pitched in parts of two Minor League seasons and never above High-A, is least likely to be selected among that group, given how far he would seem to be from being big league ready.

Valenzuela and Sandridge, meanwhile, are a bit older and more advanced. They’re both candidates to be selected by opposing clubs in the Rule 5 Draft.

Sandridge posted a 4.28 ERA between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso last season, striking out 95 hitters in 61 innings (though he walked 49). Valenzuela, meanwhile, is a defense-first catcher who couldn’t follow up his strong offensive showing in 2023. He posted a .664 OPS between San Antonio and El Paso in ’24.

What to expect

The three prospects who were selected will report to big league camp in 2025 -- though it's highly unlikely any of the three would have a role on the Opening Day roster.

Still, the 22-year-old Baez is coming off an impressive season, split between High-A Fort Wayne and San Antonio. He posted a 2.99 ERA across 126 1/3 innings at those two levels and could be in line for a big league debut at some point this summer if that success continues.

Cruz, 25, and Bergert, 24, are older prospects, but the same holds true. They're viewed as potential depth options next summer, and the Padres wanted to ensure they remained in the organization.

As for the prospects left unprotected, the Padres must now wait and see. The Rule 5 Draft is set for Dec. 11 in Dallas.