Phillies lose Paul Owens Award winner in Rule 5 Draft

The Phillies lost 2024 Paul Owens Award-winning pitcher Eiberson Castellano in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.

The Minnesota Twins selected him in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. The Phillies selected right-hander Mike Vasil from the Mets. The club later flipped Vasil to the Rays for cash considerations.

Castellano, 23, had a strong season across two levels of the minor leagues. Splitting time between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading, Castellano posted a 3.99 ERA in 103 2/3 innings. He was named the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the year.

He was expected to be a depth option for the Phillies if he had not been selected by another club. Philadelphia instead decided to protect pitcher Jean Cabrera over Castellano.

Castellano is the first Twins Rule 5 selection since 2017. Minnesota GM Jeremy Zoll told reporters at the Winter Meetings that Castellano will compete for a multi-inning relief role in spring training. The club plans to “keep refining his pitch mix.”

To remain in the Twins organization, Castellano must remain on the 26-man active roster for the entire 2025 season. If the Twins are to remove him from their roster, they must place him on waivers. If he clears, Castellano will be offered back to the Phillies for $50,000. The Twins paid the standard $100,000 to select him in the Rule 5 Draft.

Castellano wasn’t the only Phillies pitcher that had a chance to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. There was some buzz surrounding former top prospect Griff McGarry as a potential top pick, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The White Sox, with the first pick, selected right-handed pitcher Shane Smith from the Brewers.

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