Giants' Rule 5 Draft Picks Make Opening Day Rosters

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The San Francisco Giants lost two right-handed pitchers, Spencer Miles and Ryan Watson, in the Rule 5 draft this past offseason. Despite their limited professional experience, both players have made the Opening Day rosters of their new teams - Miles with the Toronto Blue Jays and Watson with the Boston Red Sox. While making the roster is an accomplishment, the players now face the challenge of sticking with their new clubs for the entire season to avoid being returned to the Giants.

Why it matters

The Rule 5 draft allows teams to take players from other organizations, but those players must remain on the active roster for the full season or be offered back to their original team. The success of Miles and Watson in making their new teams' rosters is noteworthy, as it demonstrates the Giants' ability to develop talent that is attractive to other clubs. However, the players now face an uphill battle to prove they can contribute at the major league level and avoid being returned to the Giants.

The details

Spencer Miles, a 25-year-old right-hander, was selected by the Blue Jays despite having just 14.2 innings of professional experience due to injury issues. He impressed in spring training, striking out 11 batters in 9.2 innings, though he also walked five and allowed two home runs. Ryan Watson, a 28-year-old right-hander, was taken by the Athletics and traded to the Red Sox. He had a 5.56 ERA and 4.62 FIP in 11.1 innings this spring, but still earned a spot on Boston's roster.

• The 2023 Rule 5 draft took place in December 2022.
• Spencer Miles and Ryan Watson made their respective teams' Opening Day rosters in March 2026.

What’s next

The Giants will monitor the progress of Miles and Watson throughout the season. If the Blue Jays or Red Sox decide to remove them from their active rosters, the players would be placed on waivers, and the Giants would have the opportunity to reclaim them for a small fee.