D-backs pick RHP Albert Suarez, lose two prospects in Rule 5 Draft
Dec 14, 2017, 10:38 AM | Updated: 11:58 am
San Francisco Giants' Albert Suarez throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Diamondbacks added right-handed pitcher Albert Suarez with the 14th pick in the MLB Rule 5 Draft on Thursday but were one of two teams to lose two prospects.
The Detroit Tigers selected outfielder Victor Reyes with the first pick in the draft, and the Cincinnati Reds plucked right-handed pitcher Brad Keller away from Arizona’s prospect pool with the fifth pick before trading him to the Kansas City Royals.
Keller was the 12th best player in the D-backs’ farm system, according to MLB.com. Reyes ranked 18th.
Suarez, 28, has major league experience and could challenge for a spot in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, general manager Mike Hazen told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. The right-hander started 12 games of his 22 appearances for the San Francisco Giants in 2016. He went 3-5 and recorded a 4.29 ERA with 54 strikeouts to 26 walks that season.
Last year, Suarez went 0-3 and made 18 appearances working exclusively out of the bullpen. He finished with a 5.12 ERA with 34 strikeouts to 11 walks.
Reyes, 23, played for Double-A Jackson last season and batted .292 with 29 doubles and 51 RBI.
The 22-year-old Keller also played for the D-backs’ Double-A affiliate. He finished 2017 with a 4.68 ERA and 10-9 record in 26 starts. Keller struck out 111 and walked 57 batters.
All players selected in the Rule 5 Draft must remain on a 25-man roster all year or be offered back to their old teams at half of the $100,000 cost that it took for a new club to pick them Thursday.
In the Triple-A phase of the draft, the D-backs selected outfielder Jay Gonzalez (Baltimore Orioles) and left-handed pitcher Lane Ratliff (Seattle Mariners). Those players must remain on the Reno Aces or be offered back to their original clubs.
Arizona lost catcher B.J. Lopez (Single-A Kane County), catcher Tyler Baker (Single-A Visalia), outfielder Jean Selmo (Rookie League) and pitcher Kaleb Fleck (Triple-A Reno) in the minor league phase of the draft.
