Every Rule 5 Draft pick in Giants history
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Rule 5 Draft picks have historically had a tough time sticking with Major League clubs, but that hasn’t stopped the Giants from rolling the dice on dozens of intriguing prospects. Here’s a look back at every player San Francisco has selected in the Rule 5 Draft over the past 50 years.
2022: C/OF Blake Sabol, Pirates
Sabol beat the odds and managed to stick on the Giants' big league roster for the entire 2023 campaign, batting .235 with a .695 OPS and 13 home runs over 110 games.
2020: RHP Dedniel Núñez, Mets
Nunez never appeared in a big league game for the Giants, as he underwent Tommy John surgery after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during Spring Training. He ended up returning to the Mets and made his MLB debut in 2024.
2019: RHP Dany Jiménez, Blue Jays
Jimenez won a spot in the Giants’ Opening Day bullpen, but he made only two appearances for the Giants before being returned to Toronto in 2020. Command proved to be an issue for Jimenez, who walked three of the eight batters he faced in the Majors. He became a repeat Rule 5 Draft selection after being picked by the A’s in December 2020.
2018: LHP Travis Bergen, Blue Jays
Like Jimenez, Bergen made his Major League debut with the Giants after earning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen in 2019, but he was returned to the Blue Jays after logging a 5.49 ERA over 19 2/3 innings and missing time with a left shoulder strain. Bergen was later dealt to the D-backs in exchange for left-hander Robbie Ray at the 2020 Trade Deadline.
2018: OF Drew Ferguson, Astros
Ferguson never appeared in the Majors with the Giants, as he was designated for assignment in the final week of Spring Training and returned to the Astros. He became a repeat Rule 5 Draft selection after being taken by the Mets in the Triple-A phase in December 2020.
2017: RHP Julian Fernández, Rockies
Fernández underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2018 and was later claimed by the Marlins, who ended up returning the hard-throwing reliever to Colorado, where he made his MLB debut in 2021.
2009: RHP Steve Johnson, Orioles
Johnson was returned to Baltimore ahead of the 2010 season and never appeared in the Majors with the Giants. He debuted with the Orioles in '12 and recorded a 4.26 ERA over 43 career appearances with Baltimore and Seattle.
2008: RHP Luis Perdomo, Cardinals
Perdomo -- not this one -- was claimed off waivers by the Padres in 2009 and posted a 4.50 ERA over parts of three Major League seasons.
2007: LHP José Capellán, Red Sox
Capellán -- not to be confused with the late pitcher of the same name -- never appeared in the Majors.
2001: 3B Felix Escalona, Astros
Escalona was claimed off waivers by the Rays and batted .209 with a .543 OPS over 84 appearances with Tampa Bay and New York.
1999: LHP Dave Maurer, Padres
Maurer was returned to San Diego ahead of the 2000 season and logged an 8.87 ERA over 22 appearances with the Padres, Indians and Blue Jays.
1996: RHP Mike Johnson, Blue Jays
The Giants used their position to select Johnson in the Rule 5 Draft before flipping him to the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. He went on to post a 6.85 ERA over 81 appearances with the O's and Expos.
1995: 3B Kim Batiste, Orioles
Batiste spent only one season with the Giants, batting .208 with a .558 OPS and three home runs over 54 games in 1996.
1992: C Jim McNamara, Marlins
A fifth-round pick of the Giants in 1986, McNamara debuted in San Francisco in 1992 before signing a free-agent deal with the expansion Marlins that offseason. The Giants attempted to retain him by taking him in the Rule 5 Draft, but McNamara appeared in only four more games with the club, going 1-for-7 in '93.
1991: LHP Rafael Quirico, Yankees
Quirico never appeared in the Majors with the Giants. He gave up seven runs over 1 2/3 innings in his lone Major League appearance with the Phillies in 1996.
1989: INF Chuck Jackson, Astros
Jackson never appeared in the Majors with the Giants.
1989: RHP Jose Alvarez, Braves
Alvarez never appeared in the Majors with the Giants.
1984: C Doug Gwosdz, Padres
Gwosdz never appeared in the Majors with the Giants.
1983: INF Fran Mullins, Reds
Mullins batted .218 with a .623 OPS and two home runs over 57 games with the Giants in 1984.
1980: C George Bjorkman, Cardinals
Bjorkman never appeared in the Majors with the Giants. He played in 29 games with the Astros in 1983, his lone Major League season.
1978: OF Max Venable, Dodgers
Venable, the father of White Sox manager Will Venable, debuted with the Giants in 1979 and stuck around for five seasons, batting .222 with a .600 OPS over 302 games. He was sent to the Expos along with Fred Breining and Andy McGaffigan as part of the Al Oliver trade in 1984.
1973: LHP Gary Ryerson, Angels
Ryerson never appeared in the Majors with the Giants.