Texas Rangers 2020 Rule 5 Draft Review

The Texas Rangers drafted a Dodgers’ farmhand who will immediately help out the bullpen, but lost several minor leaguers.

The Texas Rangers held possession of the second pick in the 2020 Minor League Rule 5 Draft, and took a right-handed reliever from the L.A. Dodgers.

That reliever was Brett de Geus formerly of the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.

de Geus finished the 2019 season with A-Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, posting a video game-like ERA between A-Ball and A-Advanced.

The former Dodger farmhand has been clocked at 98 mph on his fastball to go along with a cutter and curveball. He averaged 10.5 strikeouts and 1.8 walks per nine innings in 2019, while recording eight saves.

He began his professional career as a starter in 2018 and has since moved to the bullpen, where he presumably will be with Texas.

The Rangers did not take another player in the second round.

In the MiLB portion of the Rule 5 Draft, Texas selected three players from other organizations. They selected RHP Matt Wivinis from the Yankees system, C Yohel Pozo from the Padres and RHP Justin Marsden from the Rays.

Wivinis went 3-5 in 2019, sporting a 2.38 ERA in 37 games for the Tampa Tarpons (A Adv.) and Trenton Thunder (AA). He struckout 55 in  50.1 innings while only allowing opposing batters to hit .201 off of him.

Yohel Pozo is an interesting story. A minor league free agent in 2020, the Padres signed him just under a month ago, only to be scooped up by the Rangers in today’s draft. Funny enough, he just left the Rangers organization.

Marsden is a 6’4 right-hander who pitched to a 5.79 ERA between two levels of A ball in the Rays system. Marsden was selected as a depth piece for Texas, and has plenty of time to turn things around at either Hickory or Down East.

The Rangers also lost four players from their minor leagues, as well. Texas managed to squeak Alex Speas, Joe Barlow, Jason Bahr, Jake Latz and Curtis Terry through the Major League portion, but lost RHP Wes Robertson, 1B Tyreque Reed, IF-OF Brendon Davis and RHP Dylan Bice.

All four of these players were scheduled to start the year at Frisco in 2021.

Boston took Tyreque Reed. For Texas, it is tough to see a power-hitting first baseman get taken from an organization lacking in first base depth and right-handed power.

The Angels selected Davis, who was the third piece in the Yu Darvish trade which supplied Willie Calhoun and recently-added A.J. Alexy.

Dylan Bice has struggled with arm issues over the past few seasons, but could be a nice pickup for Miami, if he can get healthy.

Finally, Cincinnati took RHP Wes Robertson who pitched for Hickory and Down East in 2019, sporting a 4.33 ERA between the two.

All-in-all, Texas had a nice Rule 5 Draft this year. They risked losing some of their top arms in the farm system for the second year in a row, and that risk paid off.

Brett de Geus will be able to get big league experience immediately, joining a young Rangers bullpen, and should get plenty of opportunities to showcase his arm.