Nationals Select Catcher, Pitcher

This morning the MLB held its Rule 5 draft. The Rule 5 draft is a draft where teams are able to select players in other teams farm systems (minor leagues) to be added to their 40-man major league roster. Teams pick in the same order as they did the MLB Draft back in June. The one exception: teams that have a full 40-man major league roster are not allowed to make selections in the Rule 5 draft.

If selected in the Rule 5 draft, a player must be kept on the teams active 25-man major league roster for the entire season after the draft. That player may not be optioned or designated to the minors. Some notable players selected the Rule 5 draft in years past include All-Stars Dan Uggla, Johan Santana, Jayson Werth, Josh Hamilton, and Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.

Minor League teams can also participate. Triple-A Teams can select players from Double-A Teams and Double-A Teams and can select players from Single-A Teams.

The Nationals selected a few players and lost a few players this morning in the Rule 5 draft. The two players that the Nationals lost were from their Class AAA affiliate Syracuse.

With the 22md pick, the Cardinals selected outfielder Erik Komatsu. Komatsu, who played for AA Harrisburg in 2011, was aquired via a trade with the Brewers in exchange for Jerry Hairston Jr. Komatsu hit .277 and had 48 RBIs to go along with 7 home runs in 2011.

Just seven picks later the Yankees selected right handed pitcher Brad Meyers. The 26 year old right hander was selected by the Nationals in the 5th round of the MLB draft in 2007. Meyers finished 9-7 witha 3.18 ERA for A Auburn, AA Harrisburg, and AAA Syracuse last season. He had a 378 to 105 strikeout to walk ratio over 5 seasons in the Nationals farm season.

The Nationals minor league teams did select a couple players to play on their Double A and Triple A clubs.

In the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, Triple-A Syracuse selected catcher Beau Seabury from the Rockies AA team in Tulsa. The 26 year old will be on AAA Syracuse. He hit .274, had 20 RBIs, and had 2 homers for A Modesto last season.

In the Double-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, Double-A Harrisburg selected right handed pitcher Matthew Buschmann from the Padres Single-A team. The 27 year old pitcher was a 2007 MLB draft selection in the fifth round. He was 12-6 with a 6.16 ERA in 32 games with 22 starts for AA San Antonio and AAA Tuscon.