PHILADELPHIA -- Almost nobody runs like Johan Rojas.

Very few play center field like him, too. They are just two reasons why the Phillies on Monday afternoon announced that they selected Rojas¡¯ contract, placing him on the 40-man roster and protecting him from next month¡¯s Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Rojas, who is the Phillies¡¯ No. 5 prospect, was the only Rule 5 Draft-eligible player the Phils placed on the 40-man roster before Monday¡¯s deadline.

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Other top prospects like Andrew Painter (No. 1), Mick Abel (No. 2), Justin Crawford (No. 3), Griff McGarry (No. 4) and others are not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, where the Phillies in previous years selected Dave Hollins (1989), Shane Victorino (2004), Ender Inciarte (2012) and Od¨²bel Herrera (2014).

Rojas, 22, split the 2022 season with High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading. He slashed a combined .244/.309/.354 with 20 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 38 RBIs, 82 runs scored and 62 stolen bases. Rojas, who was caught stealing only five times, posted a .720 OPS in 264 plate appearances with Reading.

He ranked eighth in Minor League Baseball in stolen bases. They were the most by a Phillies¡¯ prospect since Anthony Gose stole 76 in 2009.

Rojas slashed .310/.423/.452 with 13 stolen bases in 13 attempts in 12 games in the Arizona Fall League.

Other prospects eligible for the Rule 5 Draft who the Phillies did not protect include right-handers McKinley Moore (No. 24 Phillies prospect) and Cristian Hern¨¢ndez and left-handers Erik Miller (No. 7) and Ethan Lindow.

The Phillies have 37 players on the 40-man roster.