I was wondering if teams ever return Double-A and Triple-A Rule 5 picks? How many Double-A and Triple-A Rule 5 picks have actually turned into major leaguers?

Brian Pelowski
New York

Unlike with major league Rule 5 picks, there are no restrictions with Double-A and Triple-A Rule 5 choices. Their new teams are free to assign those players anywhere they want without having to offer them back to their former clubs.

The pickings are very slim, as might be expected considering that anyone protected on a major league or Triple-A roster—that's a total of 78 players—isn't eligible for the Triple-A phase. The pool for the Double-A phase is even shallower.

I did a quick scan of the minor league Rule 5 drafts from this decade and came up with five players who reached the majors: Nate Bland (Astros from Mets, 2002), Graham Koonce (Athletics from Padres, 2001), Aaron Miles (White Sox from Astros, 2000), Jorge Sosa (Mariners from Rockies, 2000) and Eric Valent (Mets from Reds, 2003). Bland was the only Double-A pick in that group, while Valent had played briefly in parts of three major league seasons before he was drafted. The most interesting selection was Sosa, an outfielder in the Colorado system who successfully converted to pitching in the Seattle organization—only to be lost in the major league Rule 5 draft the following year.

I've been following Greg Jacobs' career since he played independent ball in Long Beach. How do you rate his chances of ever playing in the majors, either as a corner outfielder or a DH?

Mark Rubin
Cypress, Calif.

Jacobs has one of the most interesting résumés in the minors. The Angels drafted him in the 13th round in 1998 as a lefthander out of Cal State Fullerton, and he pitched his way to high Class A before getting traded to the Diamondbacks for future considerations (read: nothing) in 2001, then getting released by Arizona and Houston in a span of three months. With no other options for 2002, he hooked up with the Long Beach Breakers of the independent Western League—as an outfielder.

Jacobs showed he could hit, winning the batting title at .380 while adding 18 homers and 91 RBIs in 85 games for good measure. Charley Kerfeld, who managed the Chico Heat club that beat Long Beach in the final round of the playoffs, also doubled as a Mariners scout and signed Jacobs for Seattle. Jacobs has continued to put up gaudy numbers as a hitter in Organized Ball, batting .332/.398/.521 with 24 homers and 139 RBIs in 234 games.

At 28 Jacobs is too old to project as having a long big league career, though he should get at least a cup of coffee. He's one-dimensional, as his speed and outfield defense are lacking, but he has proven himself at every level and could help the Mariners off the bench. Maybe he can be Seattle's 2005 version of Bucky Jacobsen.

posted by Jay Y. @ 2:18 PM

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:45 AM