The Arizona Diamondbacks added left-handed pitchers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt — acquired in the Merrill Kelly trade — along with right-hander Dylan Ray and infielder Jose Fernandez to the 40-man roster on Tuesday, the deadline to protect players from December’s Rule 5 Draft.
In need of roster spots, Arizona designated left-hander Tommy Henry for assignment after he underwent Tommy John surgery this past summer.
The Diamondbacks also outrighted reliever Christian Montes De Oca to Triple-A Reno. He made his MLB debut last year but suffered a season-ending back injury after one appearance.
Arizona’s 40-man roster sits at 40 players with more roster decisions coming. The non-tender deadline is on Friday.
The Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the winter meetings in Orlando on Dec. 10, allows clubs to poach unprotected talent from other organizations. Prospects who sign at 18 years old or younger become Rule 5 eligible if not thrown on the 40-man roster within five seasons, while players who sign at 19 or older join the pool if not added within four years.
Among Diamondbacks prospects who were left unprotected include pitcher Spencer Giesting, first baseman Ivan Melendez, outfielder Kristian Robinson and outfielder A.J. Vukovich.
Diamondbacks protect 4 players from Rule 5 Draft
Kohl Drake
Drake — a 25-year-old, 6-foot-5 southpaw — had recently made the leap from Double-A to Triple-A in the Texas Rangers’ system before getting traded to Arizona. He pitched in four games for Triple-A Reno after the trade, but a shoulder injury ended his season early. Overall, he pitched in 20 MiLB games last year with a 4.23 ERA, 106 strikeouts and 36 walks in 89.1 innings.
Being able to control the zone is a strength of his game.
MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 6 on Arizona’s top prospects list, the top pitcher on the board. With the Diamondbacks in need of starting pitching, Drake is on the short list of arms in the upper minors who could provide in-house solutions to eating innings in 2026.
Kohl Drake — acquired in the Merrill Kelly Trade Deadline deal — dominates in his latest Triple-A @Aces outing 💎
4 IP
1 H
0 ER (1 R)
1 BB
7 K
The @Dbacks‘ No. 8 prospect logs a 35.3% whiff rate and ups his K/9 this year to 10.7: pic.twitter.com/ojZ60RS5fw
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 21, 2025
Mitch Bratt
Bratt, 22, spent the 2025 season in Double-A, making six starts for Double-A Amarillo after the trade.
Like Drake, Bratt is not overpowering but throws strikes. He worked a 3.98 ERA in 31.2 innings, striking out 42 batters with only five walks for the Sod Poodles. He walked 21 batters all season in 122.1 minor league innings while striking out 148.
He previously pitched for Team Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic at 19 years old and is Arizona’s No. 9 prospect (third among pitchers).
A change in organization didn’t slow down Mitch Bratt (@WVBlackBears ’21) who was named as a Texas League (Double-A) All-Star! 🤩
2025: 24/23 G/S, 7-4, 3.38 ERA, 122.1 IP, 148 K, 1.17 WHIP
MLBDL: 7 GS, 2.57 ERA, 28 IP, 44 K, 1.46 WHIPP
Drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 MLB… pic.twitter.com/jiM3gCzAjP
— MLB Draft League (@mlbdraftleague) September 24, 2025
Dylan Ray
Ray, 24, has been in the Diamondbacks’ farm system since they drafted him in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Alabama. He threw a career-high 140.1 innings in 2025, reaching Triple-A Reno by June.
His Pacific Coast League numbers are gaudy (6.30 ERA in 18 starts), but that is a hitter-friendly environment. He had some high points including a PCL Pitcher of the Week award, plus Baseball America recently ranked Ray as having the best changeup in the farm system.
Jose Fernandez
Fernandez is a 22-year-old, right-handed hitter from Venezuela who has been with the Diamondbacks since 2021.
He spent all of 2025 in Double-A Amarillo, where he played primarily shortstop with third base and first base mixed in. He also has minor league experience at second base.
At the plate, Fernandez hit. 272 with a .775 OPS for the Sod Poodles, clubbing 17 home runs, 27 doubles and four triples. He also stole 12 bases.
Jose Fernandez said NO 😤 #AllHoppedUp pic.twitter.com/2c3Z5EqCkk
— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) July 25, 2024
Diamondbacks DFA Tommy Henry
Henry last pitched on June 10 before hitting the injured list and undergoing surgery. The 28-year-old has made 37 appearances for the Diamondbacks over the last four years to mixed results.
He showed potential to stick in the back of a rotation with a 4.15 ERA in 16 starts during the 2023 season, but injury kept him out after July. He missed the entire postseason.
Over the past two years, he’s made only 11 appearances in MLB to a 6.60 ERA. Arizona drafted him in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Michigan.
