No pictures of him in the database yet, so imagine a Reading minor leaguer wearing #47 on the mound.
For the first time, MLB provided a live video webcast of the Rule 5 Draft rather than just audio as in years prior. As such, Twins fans got to see the team add another player to their big league roster.
With their selection, Minnesota plucked from the Philadelphia pipeline, adding right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano to the club. The team announced him as a starter when making the pick.
A 2018 international free agent signing, Castellano was made a starter by the Phillies organization for 2024 after three average minor league seasons. He broke out for the A+-Jersey Shore BlueClaws, pitching to a 4.12 ERA in 14 appearances at that level before his July promotion to AA-Reading. That month, he was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month; he subsequently finished the year with the Fightin’ Phils, putting up a 3.72 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in his eight AA starts and being named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Per Rule 5 rules, the Twins must keep Castellano on their 26-man roster for the entire 2025 season; if they wish to remove him, they must place him on waivers; if he clears, they must offer him back to Philadelphia for $50,000.
Last month, Minnesota selected the contracts of pitchers Marco Raya and Travis Adams, adding them to the 40-man roster and protecting them from Rule 5 selection. While the fanbase may have been surprised at some of the names the organization decided not to protect, namely Kala’i Rosario and Christian MacLeod, neither player—nor any other minor league from the organization—was selected in the draft’s major league phase.
In the minor league phase, the Twins selected three players:
- RHP Trent Baker (Cardinals, AA) — a starting pitcher
- OF Miguel Briceno (Milwaukee, AA) — note that Briceno has played shortstop in the minors but was announced by the team as an outfielder
- C Jefferson Valladares (LA Dodgers, rookie complex)
They lost RHP Taylor Floyd (AA-Wichita; a reliever) to the Mariners in the same phase.