Brewers Rule 5 Draft Preview: 10 Names To Consider Selecting, 5 Who Could Be Poached

The annual Rule 5 Draft is here. The event serves as a de facto closing ceremonies for baseball's Winter Meetings. The Milwaukee Brewers have the chance to add players to their organization or potentially lose players.

Before we get into the names the Brewers could select, here's a quick refresher on how the Rule 5 Draft works.

Minor league players who are not on the 40 man roster who have enough minor league service time if you will, are eligible to be selected by other organizations. This gives players who may be blocked or not getting a big league opportunity with their current club a chance to get to the major leagues. The teams pay a small fee to draft the player and if they don't work out, they can return them to their original team and get half their money back.

Rule 5 selections must stay on the major league roster for the entirety of the next season. They cannot be optioned down, and if injured, they must be active for a minimum of 90 days.

Last season, the Brewers selected reliever Gus Varland from the Dodgers. He made the Opening Day roster but could not stick in the big leagues and was offered back to Los Angeles. This year, could the Brewers make another selection?

Following the signings of Jackson Chourio, Wade Miley, and Joe Ross, the Brewers 40 man roster currently stands at 38, meaning they do have room to select a player or even two in the Rule 5 Draft.

Here are 10 candidates that the Brewers should consider selecting in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft.

Hitters

1. Blaine Crim, 1B, Rangers

Blaine Crim lit up Triple-A this season, hitting .289/.385/.506 with 31 doubles, 22 homers, and an .891 OPS. He's a first baseman that isn't known for his glove but he draws walks, hits for power, and fills a position of need. The Brewers need a power infusion and they need first base options. Giving Crim a shot may be worthwhile.

2. Troy Johnston, 1B, Marlins

Johnston is a little undersized for a first baseman at 5'11", but he hit .307 with 26 homers and 24 stolen bases in the upper levels of the minors this year and makes a lot of hard contact. He had 67 extra-base hits and just an 18% strikeout rate. He'd add power and on-base ability at a needed position in first base for the Brewers.

3. Trevor Hauver, 1B, Rangers

A former 3rd round pick, Hauver has some prospect pedigree and has put up some solid numbers. Last season for Double-A Frisco, Hauver slugged 12 homers with an .803 OPS in 107 games. He draws walks at a high clip and that on-base ability plus power potential is something the Brewers would like to see in a first baseman.

Pitchers

4. Tanner Burns, RHP, Guardians

Tanner Burns is a former first round pick and the Guardians are known for developing pitching and Burns shows a lot of traits the Brewers like. He's had strong results in the upper levels of the minors as both a starter and reliever. Burns' induced vertical break (IVB) on his fastball is elite, running 20 inches of IVB, and that's a number the Brewers typically covet. He can adapt to different roles, which would be needed in Milwaukee, who could use him as a starter, reliever, or swingman.

5. Justin Slaten, RHP, Rangers

Slaten is a typically Rule 5 selection, similar to the profile Gus Varland had last year. He's a power pitcher, reaching the upper 90s that finally figured out some walk problems and has experience in the upper levels of the minors. He generates whiffs and has quality stuff and would be an excellent option for the Brewers bullpen, if he lasts long enough in the Draft to get to Milwaukee's pick.

6. Shane Drohan, LHP, Red Sox

You can never have enough lefties. Drohan showcased improved stuff in 2023. He struggled once promoted to Triple-A as a starter, but he has four pitches, including a big league changeup. Focusing on that changeup, Drohan could find a role out of a bullpen as a lefty with an elite offspeed pitch.

7. CJ Van Eyk, RHP, Blue Jays

Van Eyk has the pedigree of a top pick, but has struggled to stay healthy over his career. He's healthy now, though, and has a hammer curveball that could play up out of the bullpen. His fastball could play up as well in shorter stints, which will be needed if he's going to succeed at the big league level.

8. Brendan Cellucci, LHP, Red Sox

Cellucci has a profile similar to that of Brent Suter in the fact that he's a soft-throwing lefty with a pitch arsenal that just stymies hitters and is very analytically freindly. He generates a lot of whiffs and tops out at just 91 MPH. His slider is his best pitch.

9. R.J. Dabovich, RHP, Giants

Dabovich didn't pitch much in 2023, missing most of the season with hip surgery, but he brings the heat. Dabovich can top out at 99 MPH and sits in the mid-90s. While health is a concern, Dabovich has the power profile that would make him fit right in in Milwaukee's bullpen. He may not be ready to start the season, but when he is finally ready to go out there, he has the stuff to be a leverage arm.

10. Ryan Fernandez, RHP, Red Sox

Fernandez also throws heat, topping out at 97 MPH and has a three pitch mix, including a cutter and slider. He generates a lot of strikeouts and can spin the ball well, which is a trait the Brewers historically target. Fernandez has struggled to stay on the field in the past, but he's healthy right now and he could help out the bullpen.