PBN Around the Horn: Examining the MiLB Rule-5 Gains and Losses

Welcome to the PBN Around the Horn. Here you’ll find news and notes from across Major League Baseball, your Pittsburgh Pirates, and around the Sports Now network.

A few days have passed now, and since there is no real big news happening, why not go over the Minor League Rule-5 draft and the fallout with what the Pirates received and lost. Now, as a disclaimer, not a ton of Minor League Rule-5 draft picks pan out, but they always have a puncher’s chance so let’s get right into it. 

Zach Matson LHP 26-years-old- Extremely high strikeout guy and must’ve had extremely bad luck or played in a bad park due to his big discrepancy between his ERA (5.73) and his xFIP (3.07). Definitely worth kicking the tires in the Triple-A pen. 

Nic Laio RHP 24-years old- Another high strikeout guy with 79 K’s in 56.1 innings pitched and relatively low walk numbers with just 15. Had a rough go of things when he jumped from Low-A to High-A in 21′, but again, he’s worth kicking the tires on.  

Jacob Gonzales INF 23-years-old- Has decent pop potential with a 60/70 raw power grade, corner infielder projection, and could be a backup plan for someone like Jared Triolo. With the power potential there, I could see why you would take the chance on him. 

 Steven Jennings to the Yankees- High spin rate guy, could never put everything together at this point. 

Jonah Davis to St. Louis- Feast or famine with Davis, he either was hitting for extra-base hits or striking out, no in-betweens with him. 

Pittsburgh Baseball Now Notes

PBN Podcasts: All-Time Pirate’s Lineup With a Twist

Former Pirate Manager Clint Hurdle Joins the Rockies Front Office

Don Kelly Withdraws Name From Mets Job 

Pirates Prospects Notes

John Dreker pulls double duty for us on Thursday. Leading off, he talks about the MiLB Rule-5 draft additions. Finally, he gives us updates on the winter league games, highlighted by a 3-5 performance from Jared Oliva.

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