2024 Rule 5 Draft Kicks Off Today at Winter Meetings

The 2024 Rule 5 Draft is set to take place this afternoon at 1 PM Central time during the Winter Meetings in Dallas. This event offers a unique opportunity for teams to acquire talented players who might otherwise be blocked by their current clubs. 


As a quick refresher, the Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select players who were 18 or younger at the time of their original signing and have played five professional seasons, or players who signed at 19 or older and have four professional seasons, provided they are not on a club’s 40-man roster. The selection order is determined by the reverse standings from the previous season, and teams must have an open 40-man roster spot to make a pick.


The first pick of this year's draft has already been reported by Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline: the White Sox selected RHP Shane Smith from the Brewers.


Last year saw some notable players change teams, such as Mitch Spence going from the Yankees to the A's and Justin Slaten moving from the Rangers to the Mets (and then to the Red Sox). Other recent successful picks include Anthony Santander and Ryan Pressly, while historic names like George Bell and Roberto Clemente also came from the Rule 5 Draft.