The White Sox have been making waves with their savvy moves in the Rule-5 draft, a strategy that paid off handsomely last season. Shane Smith emerged as their standout performer, earning All-Star honors and securing the role of Opening Day starter.
Adding to their success, they acquired Mike Vasil from the Tampa Bay Rays, who was initially the 14th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule-5 draft. This dynamic duo underscored the White Sox's knack for unearthing talent.
This year, the White Sox aimed to continue their Rule-5 magic by selecting Jedixson Paez and Alexander Alberto. With their first pick, they nabbed Paez, a promising starting pitcher from the Boston Red Sox organization, who now ranks 15th on the White Sox's top-30 prospect list, according to MLB Pipeline. Their second pick, Alexander Alberto, came from the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
However, the White Sox hit a snag as they returned Alberto to the Rays. Despite his potential, the Rule-5 draft rules required him to stay on the active roster all season, or else face waivers and a return to his original team. The White Sox determined he wasn't quite ready for the majors, and Tampa Bay was eager to take him back.
Alberto showcased his talent last season with the Rays' High-A affiliate, posting a 2.83 ERA over 35 innings, striking out 45 batters, and holding opponents to a .224 average. Despite these promising numbers, his Spring Training performance was rocky.
In 6.2 innings, he allowed 12 hits and eight earned runs, resulting in a 10.80 ERA, though he did manage to strike out seven batters. With a competitive bullpen in place, the White Sox had to make a tough call.
The decision to return Alberto was unexpected, given the remaining time in Spring Training. Yet, the White Sox felt he needed more seasoning before contributing at the major league level. There's a good chance we'll see him make an impact in the future, perhaps even finding his way back to the White Sox.
Meanwhile, Jedixson Paez remains with the team and appears poised to step up, especially in light of Mike Vasil's injury. Paez has big shoes to fill, but he represents the White Sox's continued hope for success through the Rule-5 draft.