Milwaukee Brewers Rule 5 Draft Update

Not as pressing news as the Cameron updates (below), but Brewers minor league catcher Lou Palmisano was taken by the Orioles in the ongoing Rule 5 draft. They’ll reportedly trade him to Houston. Whichever team controls Palmisano this season has to keep him on their Major League roster, or else offer him (or money) back to Milwaukee for sending him down—as was the case last season when the Padres obtained Callix Crabbe.

One of us will chime in if Milwaukee makes a Rule 5 selection. Melvin indicated yesterday  Milwaukee probably would.

Update: Milwaukee selected RHP Eduardo Morlan with the 16th selection in the Rule 5 Draft. The 6′2” Cuban hurler will be 23 when the 2009 season begins. He was taken from the Tampa Bay Rays, where he had moderate success in the bullpen for the Montgomery Biscuits, their Double-A affiliate. In 30 games for the Buscuits last season, Morlan posted a 3.64 ERA, with 45 Ks in 47 innings. He held opponents to a .247 AVG. 

Those with more exposure to Morlan said,

"

“Eduardo Morlan was traded to Tampa Bay from Minnesota last winter in the Matt Garza-Delmon Young swap. He can dial his fastball up into the mid-90s and he has a high-80s slider to act as his strikeout pitch. His numbers were down in 2008 after switching organizations but you don’t get the chance to nab a player with this skill set after a fabulous season.”

"

More updates on rest of draft: 

• Brewers front office expatriate and new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik poached Huntsville pitcher Pat Ryan from Milwaukee’s control with the second pick in the Triple-A Phase. Ryan went 5-5 with a 2.52 ERA and six saves in 64.1 innings in 2008. Touché!

• Milwaukee made a Triple-A Phase first round selection of their own, taking RHP Mark Holliman from the Cubs. A bit old for just reaching Double-A in 2008. His numbers are nothing to write home about. But he averaged nearly a strikeout per inning and might be a raw project.

• In the second round of the Triple-A Phase, the Rangers swiped SS Guider Rodriquez from Milwaukee. I’ve personally never heard of this dude, so I could care less. Apparently he was Escobar’s backup on the Stars—whatever.

• More importantly the Brewers also struck in the second round, taking Jonny Ash from the ‘Stros. Ash is a light-hitting middle infielder who, if I had to wager, is in no way related to Gord Ash.

So ends the draft. I know the Triple-A Phase selections have different rules than the first and second round picks in the Major League portion have. Unfortunately, I don’t know them thoroughly enough explain but will look into it at a later time.

Jared did not contribute to this report. I always wanted to say that.