Our Annual Preview - Which Brewers Farmhands Qualify for December's Rule 5 Draft?

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of © Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

By mid-November (the afternoon of Tuesday November 11th, we believe), teams across MLB will have to set their 40-man rosters in order to identify which minor league players they wish to protect from exposure to the Rule 5 draft in December. Last November saw the Brewers add RHP's Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick while not adding RHP Shane Smith, subsequently claimed by the White Sox with the first pick in the draft. Clearly, each of those decisions had implications on the 2025 campaign. Unlike November 2023, the Brewers did not make any November 2024 trades for a Rule 5 eligible player, as they did then, giving up OF Hendry Mendez and INF Robert Moore for INF Oliver Dunn, who was immediately added to the team's 40-man at the time.

Who is most likely to be added this November, if anyone at all?

Quick primer thanks to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince:

What is the Rule 5 Draft?

A draft that allows clubs that do not have a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man players from other organizations. Essentially, it is an avenue for teams to identify and give a Major League opportunity to players that they feel have been held back elsewhere.

Players signed at age 18 or younger must be added to their club’s 40-man roster within five seasons or else become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players signed at 19 or older must be protected within four seasons.

Like the amateur Draft (officially known as the Rule 4 Draft), the Rule 5 Draft is held in reverse order of standings from the previous season. Unlike the amateur Draft, not every club will make a selection in the Rule 5. Those that do must pay $100,000 to the club from which the player was selected, and the player must remain on the new club’s 26-man roster (or injured list) for the entirety of the following season or else be placed on outright waivers. If the player clears waivers, he must be offered back to his original team for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the Minors only if his original team does not take him back. (This prevents teams from pilfering players from other teams and then stashing them in their Minor League system.)

When is the Rule 5 Draft?

This winter’s Rule 5 Draft will be held Wednesday Dec. 10th.

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There are 31 names on the eligible list this year, and it doesn't appear the Brewers will need to spend too much energy nor gnashing of teeth in the analysis (though certainly they'll be thorough).

* = First Time as Rule 5 Eligible

AAA Nashville:

• RHP JB Bukauskas
• RHP Will Childers*
• LHP Brian Fitzpatrick*
• RHP Blake Holub
• INF Eddys Leonard
• INF Ethan Murray
• LHP Thomas Pannone
• LHP Nate Peterson*
• RHP Garrett Stallings
• INF Freddy Zamora

AA Biloxi:

• INF Eric Brown, Jr.*
• INF/OF Eduardo Garcia
• RHP Stiven Cruz
• RHP Nick Merkel*
• C Darrien Miller
• OF Hedbert Perez
• C Ramon Rodriguez
• LHP Russell Smith
• OF Garrett Spain
• UTIL Jheremy Vargas
• INF Zavier Warren
• C Matt Wood*

High-A Wisconsin:

• RHP Patricio Aquino*
• OF Luis Castillo*
• C Blayberg Diaz
• C David Garcia
• INF Daniel Guilarte*
• 1B/OF Tayden Hall*
• RHP Edwin Jimenez
• C Andrick Nava
• OF/INF Kay-Lan Nicasia
• RHP Yerlin Rodriguez
• RHP Will Rudy*
• RHP Cameron Wagoner*

A-Ball Carolina:

• RHP Quinton Low*
• C Edgardo Ordonez*
• LHP Anfernny Reyes*
• LHP Caden Vire*

Rookie Maryvale:

• C Eric Martinez*
• OF Demetrio Nadal*

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Don't confuse the players on this list with the names here: "The Brewers Farmhands Set to Become Minor League Free Agents in October" - otherwise known as "The Coleman Crow will be added" article.

NOTE: The Jadher Areinamo commentary below (and his photo for this article) clearly pre-date his July trade to the Rays' organization (for catcher Danny Jansen).

Feel free to discuss and predict in the comments below, but I see the potentials as such:

Lock:

• None

Just Barely South of Lock:

• None

Under Fairly Strong Consideration:

• INF Jadher Areinamo (turns 22 in November)

Could Sneak In:

• INF/LF Ethan Murray (turned 25 this past May)
• RHP Will Childers (turns 25 in November)

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It says quite a bit about 2022 1st round INF Eric Brown, Jr., and his $2.15 million (under slot) bonus as the 27th overall pick that he's not a consideration at all. Brown last saw action on April 22nd with Biloxi, and had appeared in center field in one game, perhaps hinting at an alternative route to playing time. Brown's OPS in 126 games at the AA level is .528. Brown turns 25 in December, and for hope for himself and us all, can look no further than my comments on Ethan Murray below for a turnaround path next year. That overall 2022 MLB early draft class is not going to go down in history as a strong group.

It was surprising to see Jadher Areinamo repeat High-A this year, though the Brewers have oft stated that the young man needed to work on his pitch selection / chase rates. Areinamo has already walked more often in 2025 (34 times) than he did in all of 2024 (33). His K rate is also up slightly but remains elite (was 11.1%, now 12.7%). The only step back Areinamo has taken is in his baserunning, just 9-for-16 in SB attempts this season (vs. 32-for-40 in 2024). He has played more games at shortstop (42) than at second base and third base combined (36). Given the other infield talent in the system, it's a possibility that the Venezuelan native is pitched in trade discussions this summer and fall. Even so, and yes, he's very young, but one would still have to sell a trade partner on the repeat of High-A.

It's only a 42-game 2025 sample given early-season injury issues, but Ethan Murray's recent production and defensive versatility have placed a slightly brighter spotlight on the 2021 5th rounder out of Duke. Then again, whether he was slowed down by other injury issues or not, Murray is just one season removed from an 82-game mess of a .525 OPS in 2024. That'll take some of the shine off this season's performance to date (.880 OPS).

Will Childers throws gas and is flashing a 1.01 WHIP in 2025, having just been bumped to Nashville this week. We certainly know that fireballing effective relievers can be targets in Rule 5, perhaps this undrafted free agent signing will be. The next few months will help determine that.

It's clear that the cream of the crop in the Crew's system is extremely young and inexperienced in terms of time at the professional level. Nearly 100% don't qualify for Rule 5 consideration this year.

Looking forward to everyone's thoughts.

 

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[wiguy94]

@Jim Goulart are you sure Childers is Rule 5 eligible? Fangraphs has him as not eligible until December 2026. He was signed as a UDFA in 2023 which would have him on the same Rule 5 timeline as guys like Wilken and Boeve and they aren't Rule 5 eligible. Or am I missing something?

[wiguy94]

I don't think anyone here needs to be protected though there are a few names I would want to put on the AAA roster in the offseason to protect from the MiLB portion of the Rule 5 draft.

MiLB protections:

LHP Brian Fitzpatrick

INF Ethan Murray

C Matt Wood

INF Jadher Areinamo

[Jim Goulart]

44 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

@Jim Goulart are you sure Childers is Rule 5 eligible? Fangraphs has him as not eligible until December 2026. He was signed as a UDFA in 2023 which would have him on the same Rule 5 timeline as guys like Wilken and Boeve and they aren't Rule 5 eligible. Or am I missing something?

I know that Childers’ MiLB page shows his initial transaction as signing on 06/01/23 but as this post shows via Baseball America, Childers signed in August 2022 as an UDFA similar to fellow college arm Nick Merkel, who did pitch for the organization in 2022. I do remember there was some “he signed, he didn’t sign, now he’s back”, about Childers.

Bottom line, the Brewers are kind enough to confirm and verify the info we post in these two threads each year (free agents, Rule 5 eligibles), which is obviously appreciated, so yes, Childers is eligible.

[Outlander]

As usual, thanks for doing this.

FYI, I was taking a look at a few of the Baseball Reference links and Eric Brown/Luis Castillo are going to the incorrect player.

[Jim Goulart]

6 hours ago, Outlander said:

As usual, thanks for doing this.

FYI, I was taking a look at a few of the Baseball Reference links and Eric Brown/Luis Castillo are going to the incorrect player.

Thanks, much like MLB Trade Rumors, our site auto-assigns the B-Ref links and whatever functionality B-Ref provides for that can lead to such errors. Correcting now.

[Jim Goulart]

[biedergb]

Thanks again for the explanation of the minor league rule 5 @Jim Goulart

[BrewerFan]

On 7/5/2025 at 5:09 PM, Jim Goulart said:

That overall 2022 MLB early draft class is not going to go down in history as a strong group.

No, probably not, but if you get an ace and a power hitting corner IFer who hits for power and takes a ton of walks, that's not bad for the big league club. 

Wasn't much else in the way of prospects who have any value outside of Adams and I think there was a pitcher in '22 that's not terrible. 

Wagoner, I assume has had a shoulder or...TJ? He seemed like he might have something. 
O'Rae is a potential utility guy I guess(could he handle SS/3B?)...and Wood. And unless I'm mistaken, he's not really viewed as a Catcher at the MLB level. 

 

But hey, '23 seemed to make up for it and hopefully '25 will be as good as '23. 

[Jim Goulart]

Removed Jadher Areinamo's name from the initial post bullet-point list above, but left the photo and associated commentary for posterity 🙃

[Jim Goulart]

RHP Dikember Sanchez was removed from the initial post in this thread (released on 7/29).

[wiguy94]

I think Fitzpatrick is actually pushing to be added to the 40 rather than added to the AAA roster to protect him from the minor league phase. He's had a really strong year. His velo is better than what I remember it being in the past. 6'7 LHP don't exactly grow on trees. Would love to see him get promoted to AAA to get a better feel for how his pitches move.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I don't think the Brewers will need to protect any of these players.  Unless we see a dramatic hot streak from someone, they just don't have the spots available.  The three that are closest are Ethan Murray, Will Childers, and Brian Fitzpatrick.  They could be useful major leaguers but have limited ceilings.

[Jim Goulart]

RHP Ryan Middendorf removed from the list above based on his release this week, reducing the Rule 5 eligible count to 33.

[Ro Mueller]

Though he only pitched in 2 AAA games and is presently injured, I’m guessing we’ll still protect 24-year old RHP Coleman Crow. Nobody else though…

[LouisEly]

Fitzpatrick and Murray have been doing their best lately to ensure that they don't get protected or picked.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 9/23/2025 at 5:23 PM, LouisEly said:

Fitzpatrick and Murray have been doing their best lately to ensure that they don't get protected or picked.

Agreed. The late season call ups of Childers, Fitzpatrick, and Murray certainly didn't show they are MLB ready. Hopefully, they settle in this off-season and in 2026 after their brief exposures. Good for the Brewers to now have that data to make their Rule 5 decisions easy. I agree with @Ro Muellerhere, as a whole, given what we've gleaned in 2025 the only player listed above worth steadfastly protecting is one RHP Coleman Crow. As to sentiments of a Big League club potentially taking a flyer on Yerlin? Good luck with that should they be so bold.😅

[Jim Goulart]

Just-released (good luck to both LHP Brandon Knarr and RHP Aidan Maldonado) have been removed from the initial post in this thread.

[BrewerFan]

On 9/23/2025 at 7:23 PM, LouisEly said:

Fitzpatrick and Murray have been doing their best lately to ensure that they don't get protected or picked.

We really should be able to make a spot for Fitzpatrick on the 40 man. A big lefty like him... I can't believe we can't find a player on the 40 man with more value than him... or Murray, Crow. 

Fitzpatrick would be one guy I'd keep working on though. 

 

*Edit-Well, Crow also. Two guys I'd keep. I like Murray, but... I haven't broken down the 40 man to see who'd have to go. 

[Lathund]

Assuming Peraltas option gets picked up, and the mutual options of Hoskins/Quintana/Jansen/Woodruff gets declined by either side, the 40-man roster will stand at 37. Steward Berroa is probably the first outright/trade on there. Easton McGee and Connor Thomas probably next, but I suspect Brewers like those guys more than the average fan does. So there's room for a couple of Rule 5 protectees, and still having a spot or two open for opportunistic pickups. 

I suspect that Crow will be the only addition. A couple of relievers that are possibilities, but I also suspect that is one area where the Brewers are fine with taking that risk, that they feel like they can fill those fringe spots with either guys that won't need 40-man protection, or guys they can sign to minor league deals. And, most of all, that the risk of them getting picked is fairly low. 

[gregmag]

Lathund, just to clarify: Thomas, like Miller and Montgomery, is on the 60-day DL. Would Thomas take one of those open spots when he’s activated, or is he already taking up one of the 40 slots? Same question for Mitchell.

I think your whole rundown makes good sense. I would have to think Lockridge makes Berroa expendable even by the reasoning that caused the Brewers to pick up Berroa. 

[Lathund]

14 minutes ago, gregmag said:

Lathund, just to clarify: Thomas, like Miller and Montgomery, is on the 60-day DL. Would Thomas take one of those open spots when he’s activated, or is he already taking up one of the 40 slots? Same question for Mitchell.

I think your whole rundown makes good sense. I would have to think Lockridge makes Berroa expendable even by the reasoning that caused the Brewers to pick up Berroa. 

Counting both Mitchell and Thomas among those 37. 

[Outlander]

Brewers should remove Thomas from the 40 man to get rid of the rule 5 restrictions. Could always resign him to a minor league deal and re add him to the 40 man later.

[snoogans8056]

Looking ahead to future 40-man crunches…

2022 draft seems to only have Luke Adams as a big name left.

2023 has an absolute ton of names (Wilken, Boeve, Woodward, Birchard, Pratt, Bitonti, Letson, Adamczewski, etc)

When would these guys need to be added? Is there a different timeline for college vs high school vs international?

[SoCalBrewfan]

Rule 5 status depends on age at signing (this is wikipedia but there are many good sources):

Quote

 

Players are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft if they are not on their major league organization's 40-man roster and:

• were 18 or younger on the June 5 preceding their signing and this is the fifth Rule 5 draft upcoming; or
• were 19 or older on the June 5 preceding their signing and this is the fourth Rule 5 draft upcoming.

 

 

So Dec 26 will also include college guys from '23 draft: Wilken, Boeve, pitchers like Woodward, Birchard, Wichrowski, Kuehner, KC Hunt. Also don't forget international signees, Luis Lara is Dec 26 eligible, as are Juan Baez, Manuel Rodriguez.