MLB Rule 5 Draft 2025 Date, Start Time, Format and Top Prospects
The 2025 MLB Rule 5 Draft will take place Wednesday, with players who were drafted age 19 or older and have been in pro ball for four seasons or more, and are not on a pro roster, are eligible to be picked by a new team.
Which teams, with room on their rosters, will make a selection and potentially find a hidden gem that could star for them for the foreseeable future with a little retooling of their abilities?
Find out with this preview of the offseason phase.
Rule 5 Draft Info
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Date: Wednesday, December 10
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Orlando, Florida
Streaming: MLB.com
Draft Order
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Draft order is determined based on win-loss record, with the worst records picking earliest. In the event of a tie, the team's record from the previous year determines which team picks above the other.
1. Colorado Rockies (43-119)
2. Chicago White Sox (60-102)
3. Washington Nationals (66-96)
4. Minnesota Twins (70-92)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91)
6. Los Angeles Angels (72-90)
7. Baltimore Orioles (75-87)
8. Athletics (76-86)
9. Braves (76-86)
10. Rays (77-85)
11. Cardinals (78-84)
12. Marlins (79-83)
13. Diamondbacks (80-82)
14. Rangers (81-81)
15. Giants (81-81)
16. Royals (82-80)
17. Reds (83-79)
18. Mets (83-79)
19. Tigers (87-75)
20. Astros (87-75)
21. Guardians (88-74)
22. Red Sox (89-73)
23. Mariners (90-72)
24. Padres (90-72)
25. Cubs (90-72)
26. Dodgers (93-69)
27. Blue Jays (94-68)
28. Yankees (94-68)
29. Phillies (96-66)
30. Brewers (97-65)
Per MLB, those eligible for drafting are "Players who turned pro at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022 are eligible for selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft if he isn't on a 40-man roster."
Teams can only make a pick if they have a spot for them on their roster.
Top Prospects
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Cameron Cauley, SS/OF/2B, Texas Rangers
Cauley played with the Frisco RoughRiders, the Rangers' AA team in 2025, hitting .253 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI.
He has struggled to find his bat thus far in the pros, but his speed allows him to make up for his offensive shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball, where he is a standout. A reliable second baseman, his raw athleticism could make him an excellent option in the outfield, an area he has yet to perform in his pro career, according to his MLB prospect scouting report.
The 17th-ranked prospect, his defensive abilities make him the most intriguing player in this year's Rule 5 Draft.
Christian Cerda, C, Arizona Diamondbacks
The catcher for the AAA Amarillo Sod Poodles, Cerda hit 18 home runs and 49 RBI, and walked 51 times. A player with great plate presence, who can spot the strike zone and gives opposing batters no wiggle room, he benefits his pitchers and can throw the ball, even if direction is somewhat suspect from time to time.
His power at the plate is fine, with his statistics almost certainly aided by the home park in Amarillo, he "tends to hit the ball in the air with an uppercut swing; his 44.4 fly-ball percentage was second-highest among Arizona full-season qualifiers," per his MLB prospect bio.
Griff McGary, P, Philadelphia Phillies
Across A, AA, and AAA ball in 2025, McGary accumulated a 3.44 ERA in 21 games and allowed an opponent average of .180. He struck out 124 batters and has intrigued the Phillies organization with his raw ability. Unfortunately, that raw stuff has not always shown up, resulting in a frustrating inability to consistently deliver strikes.
"He worked with the Phillies to remap and shorten his arm path in the hopes of improving his command this season. The hope is that the move to the bullpen will allow him to carve out some kind of big league role," his prospect bio stated.
A member of the Phillies system for five years, his potential has kept him around longer than some. An organization that can work with him and develop his command may find themselves a diamond in the rough.
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