Ahead of this afternoon’s deadline to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to MLB teams’ 40-Man rosters, Washington’s Nationals selected the contracts of 21-year-old infielder Yasel Antuna and 22-year-old right-hander Joan Adon, protecting both from selection.
That leaves infielder/outfielder Cole Freeman, outfielder Nick Banks, catchers Israel Pineda and Raudy Read, and right-hander Sterling Sharp as the only players on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Nationals’ Top 30 prospects left unprotected in this year’s Rule 5.
Sharp, of course, was selected by the Miami Marlins in last year’s draft, and the 25-year-old, 2016, 22nd Round pick by the Nats debuted for the Fish and made four appearances out of the bullpen before he was returned to the Nationals in late August.