The Rule 5 draft won’t be until December, but with the season winding down, the Royals will need to begin considering how they want to manipulate the 40-man roster in anticipation of the draft. For those unfamiliar with the Rule 5 draft, it is a way to give minor leaguers an opportunity if they have been stashed away in a deep organization or haven’t been given a chance yet.
According to MLB.com, the following players are eligible for the Rule 5 draft.
Players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years are eligible, as are players who were signed at 18 and have played for five years.