With 13 players headed to new organizations following the MLB Rule 5 draft, now they all have work to do to stick on a big league roster in 2026. Here’s the likelihood that happens, plus what risks each player faces to avoid being sent back to their original teams.

MLB Phase Round 1

1. Rockies — RJ Petit, RHP, Tigers

What he does well: Petit is a massive 6-foot-8, 300-pound righthander with big stuff to match. He has four pitches that work in the zone, and he has a track record of solid success to go with power stuff and above-average control. His ability to suppress home runs will work well in the Coors Field environment.

What he needs to work on: Petit is more solid than spectacular. He’s one of the Rule 5 picks most likely to stick, but it will probably happen as a lower-leverage arm.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: The Rockies are in the middle of a complete rebuild and had worse arms than Petit in their bullpen last year. He’s likely to help them in the bullpen.

2. White Sox — Jedixson Paez, RHP, Red Sox

What he does well: Paez has arguably the best control of any pitcher available in the Rule 5 draft. He fills the zone and walks no one. Often Rule 5 picks can’t make the team because MLB managers don’t trust them to throw strikes. That should not be an issue for Paez.

What he needs to work on: Paez’s stuff is fringy, and when he tried to ramp up the stuff in 2025, he ended up missing much of the season with a calf injury. He has yet to pitch above High-A, so he’s about to face a massive jump in quality of hitters.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Paez’s control gives him a chance to come to White Sox camp as an arm who could start or pitch in the bullpen. But he’ll have to show he isn’t overwhelmed by the significant jump to the big leagues.

3. Nationals — Griff McGarry, RHP, Phillies

What he does well: McGarry’s pure stuff immediately rivals anyone in the Nationals’ bullpen. His fastball, sweeper, slider and changeup will all flash above-average or better at their best.

What he needs to work on: McGarry has never consistently found the strike zone. His control troubles could force the Nationals to offer him back to the Phillies, much as they did last year with Evan Reifert, a nasty but wild Rays reliever.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: If McGarry shows below-average control, he can fit as a useful power reliever. If he has bottom-of-the-scale control, which he’s shown at times, he likely won’t stick.

4. Giants — Daniel Susac, C, Athletics

What he does well: Susac is relatively well-rounded catcher. He has reached Triple-A and has plenty of experience handling stuff, so the modest jump to the majors shouldn’t be too big a leap. He has more offensive upside than some big league catchers with solid defensive chops as well.

What he needs to work on: Susac’s over-aggressiveness at the plate could be an issue against MLB pitchers armed with in-depth scouting reports. He has solid contact ability, but too often he hits pitchers’ pitches.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Susac’s older brother Andrew played for the Giants as well. The Giants don’t have much upper-level depth at catcher, so he has a shot at being the rare MLB Rule 5 catcher pick to stick.

5. Rangers — Carter Baumler, RHP, Orioles

What he does well: Baumler’s lower arm slot helps his fastball-curveball combo play up. When healthy, he has shown MLB-quality stuff and had MiLB success.

What he needs to work on: Shoulder injuries have slowed Baumler’s ascent. Injuries are his biggest issue and have made it harder for him to carry the workload expected from MLB pitchers. He has never thrown 40 innings in a pro season. Now, he’ll have to show he can throw out of the bullpen multiple times a week.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: If healthy, Baumler could be a solid addition to a bullpen, but he will have to overcome durability questions.

6. Red Sox — Ryan Watson, RHP, Giants

What he does well: Watson keeps hitters guessing by throwing four pitches for strikes. At 28 years old, he’s older with plenty of upper-level MiLB experience.

What he needs to work on: Watson should be durable and reliable, but he will need to prove he’s good enough to carve out a relief spot despite the lack of options. Watson is among the least likely Rule 5 picks to have a nightmarish spring, but he’s also likely close to his ceiling right now.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Watson’s spot on the Red Sox roster will likely depend on the performance of some of the team’s other bullpen options. He’s an adequate relief option, but he’s generally viewed a more of an up-and-down arm.

7. Cardinals — Matt Pushard, RHP, Marlins

What he does well: Pushard is likely as good as he’s ever going to be at 27 years old. He spent all of 2025 in the Triple-A Jacksonville bullpen and he’s more polished than most Rule 5 picks.

What he needs to work on: Pushard has MLB-caliber stuff, but most pitchers with similar talent are optioned up and down as needed. The Cardinals can’t do that with Pushard, so they’ll have to decide if his stuff is worth carrying all season, especially when other relievers are gassed and the team needs fresh arms.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Pushard should compete for a spot in the middle of the Cardinals’ bullpen in a one- to two-inning lower-leverage role.

8. Astros — Roddery Muñoz, RHP, Reds

What he does well: Unlike most of the Rule 5 picks, Muñoz has MLB experience. He pitched in the majors in 2024 (Marlins) and 2025 (Cardinals), although he has yet to have success in the majors. His high-80s slider can be an effective putaway pitch.

What he needs to work on: Muñoz allows homers far too frequently and he was wild in his stint with the Cardinals last season. He will have to show he’s worthy of a roster spot all season, even if he definitely has the stuff to be up at some point in the year.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: This is an odd one. Muñoz was recently designated for assignment and then signed by the Reds as a minor league free agent. Instead of hoping for a midseason callup as a Triple-A arm, now he needs to show he’s worth a roster spot all year without the recourse of optioning him to the minors. That will be a tougher path.

9. Guardians — Peyton Pallette, RHP, White Sox

What he does well: A number of evaluators viewed Pallette was one of the more MLB-ready Rule 5 relief arms. He has bounced back well from his past elbow injuries and showed bat-missing stuff at Triple-A Charlotte in 2025.

What he needs to work on: Pallette’s success has never matched his stuff. He has a career 4.20 ERA despite solid peripheral numbers. He needs to show he can avoid big innings and miscues that have allowed innings to get away from him.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Palette should have a better chance than most of the Rule 5 relief arms to stick for the entire season. He has an MLB-caliber four-pitch mix.

10. Blue Jays — Spencer Miles, RHP, Giants

What he does well: Miles was one of the most impressive pitchers in the Arizona Fall League, where struck out 12 and walked only one, dominating with a mid-90s fastball and a downer curve.

What he needs to work on: Miles has 14.2 innings of MiLB experience thanks to a pair of significant injuries: a back injury and then Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t had a healthy three-month stretch over the past four years. Now, he’ll need to make a big league roster.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Miles is the biggest durability question mark of the MLB Rule 5 draft. His stuff belongs in the majors and he’s fully healthy, but it’s a big ask to jump to the majors with no experience handling the grind of a full minor league season.

11. Yankees — Cade Winquest, RHP, Cardinals

What he does well: Winquest isn’t flashy, but he’s a reliable MiLB starter who could handle a variety of roles. After throwing 106 innings in 2025, he’s stretched out to a point where he should be able to handle the heavier MLB workload.

What he needs to work on: Winquest’s stuff is merely solid. He will need to sharpen everything a tick to survive against MLB hitters.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Winquest is unlikely to ever be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter/long reliever, but his above-average control means he may be ready to make the leap to the majors.

12. Phillies — Zach McCambley, RHP, Marlins

What he does well: We heard McCambley’s name often leading up to the draft. He runs his fastball up to 97 mph and both his sweepy slider and cutter miss bats.

What he needs to work on: Despite its velocity, McCambley’s fastball doesn’t miss bats. He’ll have to rely heavily on his secondary offerings.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: McCambley has solid secondaries, control and upper-level minor league success. He has a decent shot to stick.

13. White Sox — Alexander Alberto, RHP, Rays

What he does well: Alberto is the best arm to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. He can throw a 100 mph cut-fastball, offering a minor glimpse of Emmanuel Clase-level stuff.

What he needs to work on: Alberto has yet to reach Double-A and has only logged 35 career High-A innings. So while he has MLB-caliber stuff, his experience is far from it. Alberto will need to cram multiple years of development into one spring training.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: The White Sox are a perfect fit for Alberto. They should be able to accept some bad outings as he adjusts to the major leagues. If they can be patient, he has high-leverage reliever stuff.