Two Yankee Prospects Selected in MLB Portion of Rule 5 Draft

Two New York Yankee prospects were selected as part of the 2015 MLB Rule 5 Draft.

Reds take OF Jake Cave at 2. Another polished OF who could stick.

— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) December 10, 2015

Cave, 23, was selected with the second overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft. The outfielder was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Kecoughtan High School in Virginia, and has spent the last four seasons in the Yankees' farm system. In 380 career games, Cave has posted a slash line of .285/.346/.391.  After the team declined to protect Cave by placing them on their 40-man roster, there was many speculation that the Yankees would lose him via the Rule 5 draft. Cave is a young player who could stick with the Reds organization, especially as the organization is in the middle of their rebuilding process.  In a surprising move, the Atlanta Braves selected left-handed pitcher Evan Rutckyj with the third overall pick in the first round.

Braves take Evan Rutckyj Yankees LHP. Interesting...didn't expect that. — JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) December 10, 2015

Rutckyj, 23, was drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Straight out of St. Joseph's Catholic High School in St. Thomas, Ontario, Rutckyj spent the past six seasons in the Yankees' farm system, posting a 31-25 record with a 4.13 ERA in 129 career appearances (47 starts). As compensation for losing the two players, the Yankees will receive $50,000 from the Reds and the Braves. In order for the two clubs to keep their respective player, each must spend the entire 2016 on their respective 25-man roster, and must remain active for a minimum of 90 days. If Cave or Rutckyj are not kept on their respective team's big league roster, the Yankees will have the opportunity to re-acquire them. If the team wishes to do so, they must  pay the team that selected the player $25,000 as compensation. The Yankees did not make a pick in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft.