Pirates Add Five, Lose Three in Minor-League Phase of Rule 5 Draft

Though the Pittsburgh Pirates passed on their pick in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, they added five players in the minor-league phase.

Of the five prospects added, three are pitchers (two left-handed, one right-handed), one is a catcher and one is an outfielder.

Here’s a breakdown on each.

RHP Franck De La Rosa (A’s)

The Pirates selected De La Rosa in the first round of the minor-league phase. The 24-year-old spent the season in A-ball and went 1-1 with a 5.88 ERA in nine appearances. In 26 innings, he walked 19 and struck out an impressive 39 batters but missed the final four months of the season with an injury.

For his career, De La Rosa has recorded 86 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched.

C Aaron McKeithan (Cardinals)

The Pirates tapped into the system of their divisional foe in taking McKeithan, a 16th-round pick of the Cardinals in 2021.

The 24-year-old spent the entire season in Double-A Springfield and slashed .264/.356/.325 in 55 games. Across four minor-league seasons, McKeithan carries a .704 OPS.

LHP Randy Labaut (Guardians)

Labaut, 28, spent the season in Triple-A Columbus and totaled 61 innings across 36 appearances (one starts). He finished the season with a 4.57 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 43 walks.

Cleveland drafted the left-hander out of the University of Arizona in 2019.

LHP Steve Hajjar (Guardians)

After a solid season in 2023, Hajjar struggled in 2024, his first season as a full-time reliever. Command plagued the left-hander in High-A with 40 walks in 39.2 innings. He did however, allow just 20 hits on the season.

Hajjar was originally a second-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2022.

OF Joel Mendez (Yankees)

Mendez, 21, has yet to escape rookie ball but had an excellent season in 2024. He appeared in 46 games and slashed a robust .292/.405/.569 with 1o doubles, four triples, six home runs and 30 RBIs.

He signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2019.

In addition to adding five players to their system, the Pirates lost three prospects to other organizations.

The Red Sox took right-hander Darvin Garcia, who went 2-3 with a 4.60 ERA in 32 relief appearances between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.

Catcher Dylan Shockley was scooped up by the Braves. Shockley, a 34th-rounder in 2019, slashed .233/.293/.344 and threw out 22% off attempted base stealers between Double-A and Triple-A.

And finally, the Phillies drafted outfielder Isaias Dipre, who hit .301 with a .441 OPS and a 1.020 OPS in 46 games in the Dominican Summer League in 2024.