12/10/25 : 2025 Rule 5 Draft

The Phillies selected one player in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

RHP Zach McCambley - Miami Marlins - 26 years old - 2020 3rd round draft selection - Coastal Carolina - 2025 AA/AAA - 2.90 ERA - 47 appearances - 62 IP - 83 K’s, 22 walks, 1.10 WHIP.  “Slider is an out pitch - 51% miss rate - also has a cutter - FB is 93-94 mph but has touched 97 mph.” - MLB. He graduated from Pocono Mountain East HS in Mount Pocono, Pa.

They lost one player in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

RHP Griff McGarry - selected by Washington Nationals - was named the Paul Owens Award winner as the most outstanding Phillies minor league pitcher for 2025. Also was named the system Pitcher of the Month for August. When he’s consistent with command and zone control he’s very good - throws a four seamer (95-97 mph) and cutter mixing in a slider and changeup. Very serious demeanor on the mound, has had difficulty in the past repeating mechanics - tended to overthrow and fall off to the side of the mound - this season that was minimal and the results reflected that.

The Phillies selected two players in minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. They had 4 spots open to select (can protect up to 38).

OF Austin Murr - Detroit Tigers - 26 years old - 2021 6th round draft selection - North Carolina State -played primarily at the High A level in 2025 - made 309 plate appearances - 15 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 43 RBIs - .280/.386/.451 slash line and .837 OPS - played 35 games in LF and 32 games in RF along with 8 at first base. “versatile, athletic, left-handed hitting utility player known for strong on-base skills, good bat-to-ball ability, and excellent defense, earning him an ABCA Gold Glove in college.” - AI

RHP Evan Gates - San Francisco Giants - 27 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 7/23/21 - North Carolina AT&T. Pitched at the AA level in 2025 - 41 appearances - 3.23 ERA - 69.2 IP - 80 K’s - 31 walks - “effective because of how he mixes his arsenal and attacks hitters. His low-90s fastball has solid carry up in the zone while his cutter has just enough cutting action to achieve horizontal separation. His low-80s knuckle curve is his best pitch with a sharp break, exceptional velocity, and no pop out of the hand, giving it plenty of deception. While Gates has solid at-best stuff, there's enough deception going on to make him a potential big-league reliever.” - SI article - 1/30/23

They lost one player selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

1B Carson Taylor - selected by Seattle Mariners  - played in just three games in 2025 with Lehigh Valley - went 5 for 7 (.714) with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs  - had labrum surgery and was placed on the full season IL on 4/12. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 4th round of the 2020 draft. Played three seasons with the Dodgers and reached the AA level primarily playing catcher (153 games) but transitioning to first base in 2023. The Phillies converted him to a full-time first baseman in 2024. He told me in April of 2024 - “I’ve had a great time learning how to play first base. Definitely still lots of room for growth for me in getting better there but feel like I’m making strides each day. I think being a first baseman has really helped me in terms of how I feel each day and being able to go out and play each and everyday.”  In regards to his hitting approach Carson told me “I want to give a huge shoutout to Casey Smith with Out Front hitting, he and I worked super hard in building the swing I have now. I made some pretty big changes and it’s really exciting to be hitting the way that I am. I think my best qualities as a hitter are that I take good at bats, I’m consistent day in and day out, and forcing pitchers to make their best pitch each time.”  Carson is a very positive young man who’s overcome injuries before in his career (broke his hamate bone in his freshman year of college) - he’s mentally tough and can freaking hit. Has transformed to a full time left handed hitter after initially switch hitting - is athletic - I think he can play third base (has done so before) or left field - was moved from behind the plate to focus on the offense. He’s got a big league bat - when he’s healthy again will continue his push to reach the show.

Former Phillies minor league catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was selected in the minor league draft by the Yankees from the Athletics.

Trade after the draft concluded :

“The Phillies are acquiring Tampa Rays No. 22 prospect Yoniel Curet in a trade for Phillies minor league RHP Tommy McCollum. Curet recently DFA’d”. - Todd Zolecki - MLB

RHP Yoniel Curet -  23 years old - was signed 7/2/19 from the Dominican Republic - last season at FCL (rehab), AA and AAA went 3-3 in 16 games (14 starts) totaling 55.1 IP with a 3.90 ERA - 62 K’s, 31 walks - has made 97 appearances in minor league career - 80 starts - 371.1 IP - 3.10 ERA - 486 K’s, 219 walks. He has an option left - “a hard-throwing pitching prospect known for a riding fastball (70 grade) that sits mid-90s and touches the high 90s, complemented by a plus slider (60 grade), making him a power pitcher despite below-average control (40 grade) and a developing changeup (40-45 grade).” - AI - “Curet has perhaps the best arsenal in the system with his fastball and slider both being considered elite. However, his command is holding him back and may eventually lead to Curet being pushed from the starting rotation into a bullpen role.” - Adam Sanford - Draysbay

My notes on RHP Tommy McCollum - has been the definition of a strikeout pitcher in his minor league career (11.53 K’s per nine) with two put-away deliveries, a heavy fastball that generally sits in the 93-96 mph range but can reach upper nineties and a splitter that drops off the table along with a cutter. Tommy is an imposing figure on the hill at 6’5” and has an easy downward plane delivery, the baseball gets on the batter quickly and comes out of the hand with lots of movement. He improved his strike throwing rate this summer bumping up to 65% from a career average of 61%. Is now pitching in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Surprise Saguaros. Could be a bullpen option next season at the major league level. Really nice young man who has great family support.

Best wishes to all the young men.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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