The Pittsburgh Pirates had the first pick in this year’s Rule 5 draft and took right-handed pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels organization.
The 22-year-old pitcher out of the Dominican Republic spent his 2019 season in the rookie Arizona league as a member of the Arizona Angels and Class A Midwest League with the Burlington Bees.
Soriano went 5-7 with the two teams with a 3.94 combined ERA.
He pitched in 20 games, starting 18 of them, pitching 82.1 innings with 92 strike outs and 51 walks.
Soriano’s fastball is his strongest pitch averaging 96 mph in 2019, hitting triple digits a few times.
MLB.com reports Soriano has an “excellent” arm but did have Tommy John surgery in February
Had the Minor Leagues had a season, he would’ve missed the entire year.
The 6’ 3”, 168 pound Sorino was ranked 13th in the Angles organization and according to MLB.com his estimated time of arrival in the big leagues is 2022, but the Pirates have two current open spots on their roster.
The Pirates have two moves in the Rule 5 draft and are also expected to make a deal with the Mets.
Anthony DiComo MLB.com writer for the Mets reports right handed pitcher Luis Oviedo, who was selected from the Cleveland Indians will be traded to the Bucs for possible cash considerations.
Oviedo was a starting pitcher in Class A Lake County in the 2019 season. He had 72 strikeouts over 87 innings with a 5.38 ERA
In the second round (first round of the Triple-A portion of the draft) the Pirates took right-handed reliever Shea Spitzbarth, from the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for high-strikeouts
They then took short stop Claudio Finol from the Cincinnati Reds, who hit .218 in Class-A in 2019 while the Chicago Cubs took Pirates right-hander Samuel Reyes.
In the next round, the Pirates claimed Jeffery Passantino from the Cubs.
Passantino spent 2019 on four of the Cubs’ farm teams with a 3.03 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 14 walks over 89 innings.
