KC Royals protect two players from Rule 5 Draft. Here’s who was added to 40-man roster
The Kansas City Royals added two players to their 40-man roster Tuesday night, elevating outfielder Tyler Gentry and pitcher Will Klein to the Major League Reserve List.
Both players were eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. The Royals decided to protect them within their 40-man roster. In a corresponding move, the Royals designated catcher Logan Porter and reliever Josh Staumont for assignment.
The Royals’ Major League Reserve List sits at 40 players.
Gentry, 24, is the organization’s No. 8-rated prospect. He was selected in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft and has climbed the Royals’ minor-league system. He hit .253 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs with Triple-A Omaha this year.
Klein, 23, spent time at two minor-league levels. He made 49 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this past season. Klein posted a 4.62 ERA with 93 strikeouts and also represented the Royals in the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
All MLB teams faced a Tuesday deadline to protect eligible Rule 5 Draft players. The Royals had to make decisions on a few of their prospects. Top-30 prospects Devin Mann and Luinder Avila were among the players KC left available for the Rule 5 Draft.
According to MLB rules, the Rule 5 Draft allows for teams without a full 40-man roster to select eligible non-40-man roster players from other clubs. Players signed at 18 or younger need to be added to a club’s 40-man roster within five seasons to avoid Rule 5 Draft eligibility.
Meanwhile, players signed at 19 or older should be protected within four seasons. If a player is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, the acquiring MLB team is required to pay $100,000 to the player’s former club.
The Rule 5 player is directly assigned to his new team’s 26-man roster. Not every team will make a Rule 5 Draft selection.
There is one key caveat. If the acquired player doesn’t stay on his new club’s 26-man roster for the entire season, he can be offered back to his original team for $50,000 after clearing waivers.
Last season, the Royals didn’t make a Rule 5 Draft selection during the major-league phase of the process. KC did select infielder Shervyen Newton in the minor-league phase. Newton spent the 2023 season with High-A Quad Cities.
This year’s Rule 5 Draft will take place Dec. 6 at the 2023 Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
This story was originally published November 14, 2023 at 7:07 PM.
