Brewers close the book on unfortunate Rule 5 Draft selection

In December of 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers made a surprise selection in the Rule 5 Draft, snatching LHP Connor Thomas from the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. Drafting Thomas himself wasn't the shocking part, as he was coming off a 2.89 ERA across 90 innings in Triple-A, but more so that the organization decided not to protect Shane Smith, who ended up being selected first overall in last year's Rule 5 Draft. Smith went on to be a standout in the Chicago White Sox' rotation in 2025, earning a trip to the All-Star Game in his rookie season.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but the Brewers would surely like a do-over on their decision to leave Smith unprotected. It stings even more considering they’ve since parted ways with Thomas, who provided little production before undergoing season-ending surgery, which could keep him out for most, if not all, of the 2026 season, as reported by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy on the social media platform X.

Milwaukee Brewers close the book on Rule-5 Draft selection Connor Thomas

With the Brewers now in offseason mode, and the 60-day IL unavailable during this period, meaning injured players still count toward the 40-man roster, Milwaukee chose to outright Thomas off the roster. Thomas declined the assignment and instead elected to become a free agent.

In free agency, Thomas may struggle to find a new team, even on a minor league deal, given the uncertainty surrounding his ability to pitch next season. He landed on the Brewers’ injured list after just two appearances and 5.1 innings due to bone spurs in his elbow. Months later, in mid-July, he underwent surgery to remove the bone spur and repair his ulnar collateral ligament, which included the use of an internal brace.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Thomas, whose journey over the past year has taken a dramatic swing. He went from the high of being a Rule 5 Draft selection, which carries a unique set of rules and ultimately helped him secure a spot on the Brewers’ Opening Day roster, to dealing with an injury that derailed his 2025 season, and potentially the next one as well. Now, instead of building on that opportunity, he faces an uncertain future in free agency paired with a daunting recovery process.