Every Rule 5 Draft pick in Cards history

The Rule 5 Draft has been a staple of baseball’s annual Winter Meetings for a long time, and even the virtual format of the Meetings this year couldn’t stop the Rule 5 Draft.

The Cardinals have had their share of activity throughout the years, but not so much recently in the Major League portion of the draft. While the format and eligibility rules have changed at times, here are all the players the Cardinals have selected in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft since 1960:

2015: Mets RHP Matt Bowman -- A reliable option out of the bullpen for three years, Bowman posted a 4.10 ERA for the Cardinals in 156 games (149 1/3 innings) with 124 strikeouts and 49 walks. Injuries in 2018 led to the Cardinals designating him for assignment, and he was claimed off waivers by the Reds for the ’19 season.

2011: Nationals OF Erik Komatsu -- The left-handed hitter only had 21 plate appearances with the Cardinals before he was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Twins in 2012. With St. Louis, Komatsu was 4-for-19 (.211) with two walks.

2009: Reds LHP Ben Jukich -- Was returned to the Reds organization in March 2010 and never reached the Majors.

2007: Indians OF Brian Barton -- Made his MLB debut with the Cardinals and played in 82 games as a pinch-hitter and outfielder in 2008. He hit .268 across 153 at-bats (179 plate appearances) with two home runs and 13 RBIs. In April 2009, he was traded to the Braves for right-hander Blaine Boyer.

2005: Cubs RHP Juan Mateo -- Was returned to the Cubs in March 2006 and appeared in 11 games for Chicago that season.

2003: Indians SS Hector Luna -- Stuck with the Cardinals as a pinch-hitter, second baseman and outfielder for two-and-a-half years, hitting .276/.336/.398 and appearing in the 2004 and ’05 postseasons for St. Louis. In July 2006, Luna was traded back to Cleveland for utility man Ronnie Belliard, who was 6-for-13 (.462) in the NLDS that October.

1998: Phillies C Alberto Castillo -- Hit .263/.326/.341 in 93 games for the Cardinals in 1999. After that season, he was part of a trade to the Blue Jays for Pat Hentgen and Paul Spoljaric.

1995: White Sox OF Andre King -- Never played a game in the Cardinals' system; instead, he was involved in a three-team deal later in 1995. The Reds sent Mike Remlinger to the Royals and Luis Ordaz to the Cardinals, the Royals sent Miguel Mejia to the Cardinals and the Cardinals sent King to the Reds. King never reached the Majors.

1994: Orioles RHP Rich DeLucia -- Appeared in 56 games for the Cardinals in 1995, starting one and finishing eight. Across 82 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.39 ERA, 76 strikeouts and 36 walks. That offseason, he was part of a trade to the Giants for Royce Clayton and Chris Wimmer. DeLucia spent 10 seasons in the Majors, pitching for six different clubs.

1985: Mets C Clint Hurdle -- Before he was a manager, he was a Rule 5 Draft pick. Hurdle spent the 1986 season with the Cardinals, hitting .195 in 78 games. He hit three home runs and drove in 15 but was granted free agency after the season. He signed with the Mets and appeared in three games before ending his playing career.

1984: Brewers INF Willie Lozado -- Made his debut in 1984 with the Brewers but did not make it to the Majors with the Cardinals. He spent 1985 in their farm system and was released after the season. He finished his career in the Rangers' and Royals' farm systems.

1982: Reds RHP Kurt Kepshire -- Kepshire’s only Major League experience came with the Cardinals after they selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. He spent two full years as a starter in St. Louis, going 16-14 with a 4.15 ERA over 262 1/3 innings. His third year only saw him pitch eight innings, and he was granted free agency after the season.

1980: Phillies C/OF Orlando Sanchez -- Sanchez made his Major League debut with St. Louis in 1981 and appeared in 27 games as a catcher and pinch-hitter. He hit .286 that year and stayed with the club the next two years but struggled offensively, hitting .189 in '82 and then going 0-for-6 in ’83. The Royals selected Sanchez in the '83 Rule 5 Draft, and ’84 was his final year in the Majors.

1980: Mexico City OF Carlos Lopez -- Drafted from the Mexican League, Lopez came to the Cardinals with Major League experience with California, Seattle and Baltimore. He hit the Cardinals’ first home run of the spring in 1981 but was returned to Mexico City before the regular season started.

1976: Expos 1B/OF Roger Freed -- Finishing his Major League career in St. Louis, Freed spent three years with the Cardinals. As the Cardinals’ primary right-handed pinch-hitter, he slashed .306/.375/.495 across 135 games and 232 plate appearances. Freed was released ahead of the 1980 season and signed with the Phillies, but he never made it back to the Majors.

1970: Red Sox OF Cecil Cooper -- The Cardinals had a chance with this future MVP candidate, but they returned him to the Red Sox before the 1971 season. Cooper gained more playing time over six years in Boston until he was traded to the Brewers in ’76. A five-time All-Star in Milwaukee, Cooper finished fifth in MVP voting three times. He led the Majors in RBIs in '80 (122) and ’83 (126), as well as doubles (35) in ’81. He led the AL in doubles in '79 with 44.

1969: Orioles INF Milt Ramirez -- The utility man had 87 plate appearances in 62 games for the 1970 Cardinals, but he only hit .190. Ramirez appeared in just four games in '71 and was part of a trade to the Astros in '72, when the Cardinals received Ray Busse and Bobby Fenwick.

1968: Astros LHP Bo Belinsky -- Belinsky had six years of Major League experience by the time he got to the Cardinals and was best known for his no-hitter in 1962 just 17 days into his rookie season with the Angels. But he regressed from there and only spent the spring with the Cardinals; the Angels purchased him back in '69. From there, he went to the Pirates and Reds, pitching just 11 games between the two to finish his career.

1965: Astros P Joe Hoerner -- The Cardinals' closer for the championship-winning 1967 season, Hoerner was once a teammate of fellow Rule 5 Draftee Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico. Hoerner had a 14-year career, and four of those years came with a successful St. Louis club. The lefty had a 2.10 ERA across 206 games (244 1/3 innings) in the Cardinals' bullpen, notching 59 saves.

1961: Milwaukee Braves RHP John Anderson -- The reliever appeared in just five games for the Cardinals in 1962, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings. In May 1962, he was traded with Carl Warwick to Houston for Bobby Shantz.