Padres lose players in MiLB Rule-5 Draft; add RHP Grant Gavin
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The minor-league version of the Rule-5 draft concluded on Wednesday, with five former San Diego Padres selected by other teams.
That number only trailed the San Francisco Giants in terms of players selected by other teams.
A.J. Preller and the Padres took just one player themselves as right-handed relief pitcher Grant Gavin from the Kansas City Royals was “drafted.”
Gavin, 26, is a 29th round selection from the 2016 MLB Draft out of Central Michigan University. He performed well in the lower levels but stalled a bit in 2021 at Triple-A Omaha. While there, he posted a 4.36 ERA in 74 innings.
Left-handed pitcher Erik Sabrowski came off the board first. The Padres drafted Sabrowski with their 14th round draft pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and Sabrowski pitched a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings at Fort Wayne in 2021. He throws hard and spins the ball well.
Most evaluators had the relief pitcher at or near the Top-30 Padres prospects. The Cleveland Guardians selected Sabrowski with the 11th pick.
Caleb Boushley was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 22nd pick.
The 28-year-old, right-handed pitcher spent three years at Lake Elsinore before the COVID-19 pandemic and then spent time at San Antonio and El Paso in 2021, recording a 5.21 ERA. The Padres drafted Boushley with their 33rd round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.
The Detroit Tigers selected Nick Kuzia with the 30th overall pick.
Kuzia played college ball at UMass, Lowell. The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher posted a 3.42 ERA at San Antonio and El Paso in 2021.
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Carlos Guarate was also selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 36th pick.
The 20-year-old Venezuelan owned a 5.91 ERA between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne in 2021.
The last former Padres player selected was Luarbert Arias, also a 20-year-old Venezuelan. Arias posted a 3.86 ERA at rookie ball and Lake Elsinore in 2021. The Miami Marlins took Arias with the 41st selection.
The MLB version of the Rule-5 draft will be held at a later date.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”