New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

Posted on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009
POSTED Thurs., Dec. 10, 2009 By Sports Network
The Washington Nationals selected outfielder Jamie Hoffman from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization with the first pick in Major League Baseball's annual Rule 5 Draft. (Hoffmann of New Ulm, MN recently returned from a short stay in Dominion Republic Winter League baseball).

The draft order is based on the reverse order of finish during the 2009 season. At 59-103 the Nationals finished with the worst record, but they traded the rights to the first overall pick to the Yankees on Monday for right-hander Brian Bruney.

Hoffman, who has been in the Dodgers' organization since 2004, appeared in 97 games between Double- and Triple-A last year, hitting .291 with a .390 on-base percentage. He had 10 homers with 64 RBI and stole 15 bases, but was caught 11 times. He also walked (54) nearly as much as he struck out (55).

The 25-year-old also played in 14 games with the Dodgers, going 4-for-22 with a home run and seven RBI.

Teams whose players are selected in the Major League phase of the draft will receive $50,000 per player. The players selected, though, must remain on the new club's 25-man roster for the entire season after the draft or be offered back to their parent organization for half the price.

However, the selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. If that player clears waivers by not signing with a new MLB team, he must be offered back to the original team, effectively canceling the Rule 5 draft choice. Once a Rule 5 draftee spends an entire season on his new team's 25-man roster, though, his status reverts to normal and he may be optioned or designated for assignment.

Several players have succeeded through the Rule 5 Draft in the past, most notably Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana. Other prominent players selected through the Rule 5 Draft include pitchers Joakim Soria, Matt Mantei and Antonio Alfonseca, as well as second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielders Josh Hamilton, George Bell, Willy Taveras and Shane Victorino.