It is always a bit of a surprise to see a familiar name in the minor league portion of the Rule V Draft. Typically those players are non-prospects, someone that just does not have a place in the organization they are in. There may be a former top prospect or two scattered in the draft, especially if they did not pan out in the upper minors or major leagues, but those players are few and far between.
As such, the New York Yankees selection with the 15th pick of the second round drew a double take. They selected…Manny Ramirez.
15. Yankees select RHP Manny Ramirez (Astros). Was an Astros top 30 prospect a few years ago.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) December 8, 2021
New York Yankees select Manny Ramirez in Rule V Draft (not that Manny Ramirez)
No, the Yankees did not manage to somehow come away with the former Red Sox and Indians outfielder. While the Yankees may need help in the outfield and another bat in the lineup, and he remains active in the game having been on his way to play in Australia before COVID hit, the former All Star was not a part of this draft.
This Manny Ramirez had been in the Astros system and was once ranked amongst their top 30 prospects. However, he has not pitched above A-ball as a professional and has not taken the mound since 2019. The 2020 campaign was lost due to the pandemic, and Ramirez was sidelined for the entire 2021 season due to an undisclosed injury.
When he was on the mound, Ramirez showed enough potential to be an intriguing prospect. His live arm allowed him to strike out 126 batters in 95.2 innings. However, Ramirez also displayed a lack of command of his stuff, as he issued 77 walks, hit ten batters, and uncorked 14 wild pitches.
The minor league portion of the Rule V Draft allows some wiggle room. The Yankees can put Ramirez anywhere in their system, allowing him the opportunity to refine his command and possibly harness his fastball. Maybe, in a few years, the Yankees can have a solid part of their bullpen with this selection.
The New York Yankees have taken Manny Ramirez in the minor league portion of the Rule V Draft. This one is a minor league reliever, not the former All Star.