Pirates select Jordan Milbrath in the Rule 5 Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates used one of their two selections in Thursday morning’s Rule 5 Draft

One of the staples on the fourth and final day of Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings is the Rule 5 Draft. The Rule 5 Draft always takes place on Thursday morning, and today is Thursday morning of Winter Meetings week.

In this year’s Rule 5 Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates had two draft picks. Major League teams are not required to use both of their draft picks in the Rule 5 Draft. This morning, the Bucs used one of their two picks selecting right-handed pitcher Jordan Milbrath.

Jordan Milbrath is a 26-year-old reliever who split 2017 between High-A and Double-A in the Cleveland Indians’ organization. Milbrath was selected in the 35th round of the 2013 June Amateur Draft by the Indians.

In 26 2/3 innings pitched at High-A in 2017, Jordan Milbrath averaged 4.73 BB/9 and 11.48 K/9. He did allow a home run and owned a 2.03 ERA and a 3.10 FIP. He then went on to post a 3.90 ERA and a 4.96 FIP while averaging 8.70 K/9 and 3.30 BB/9 in 30 innings pitched at Double-A. He also allowed five home runs at Double-A.

Milbrath is a pitcher with a big arm, control issues, and lots of strikeouts. In Spring Training he will be given the opportunity to win a spot in the Pirate bullpen. Odds are, however, that will not happen. Remember, last year in Spring Training Rule 5 selection Tyler Webb was excellent and still did not earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Next: Pirate news from day 3 of the Winter Meetings

With the addition of Jordan Milbrath, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster now has 39 players on it. He must remain on the Pirates’ active roster for the entirety of the 2018 season or else the Pirates will have to return him to the Indians, or work out a trade with the Tribe to keep him.