I feel like Mr. Roarke in the opening scene of Fantasy Island even though I don’t know a single player chosen (thus far) in the Rule 5 Draft. In the past I wrote features on guys later taken in the draft which kind of screwed up my story, but on the whole being selected is a good thing.

A handful of the guys taken with the first 13 picks were surprises, the rest were likely to have a new address. Of the GM’s interviewed all were either happy with who they chose or happy for the guys they lost. The latter got to know guys they thought highly enough to draft or trade for and glad that they would be getting a fresh start or better opportunity. That’s exactly why the draft was established in the first place. Organizations with deep minor league systems could hide players and retard their development. However, fans that study their team’s organizational charts the way they follow their kids’ grades grow attached to highly touted prospects and hate to see them succeed with another ML team.

As we edge closer to spring training fans will start to learn more about their team’s acquisition via Rule 5 and will learn if the guys will head north in March. I expect most of us will forget about the majority of the guys as they’ll be returned to the original club. But for now, they’re getting a second or third chance and for that I reason, I wish them well.