Browsing: difficult

Natalya Highlights Why Debuting In WWE’s Divas Era Was So Difficult

Natalya recalls the challenges she faced leading up to her WWE debut during the Divas Era.

It may sound surprising, but WWE superstar Natalya is currently experiencing a career renaissance outside the company. Nattie Neidhart, as she prefers to be called outside WWE, has made a strong impression in promotions such as GCW and AAA.

However, competing outside WWE was hardly an option during the Divas Era, when performers had to conform to Vince McMahonâ€s vision to find success in the company.

As Natalya revealed during a recent appearance on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, her WWE debut was far from smooth, as she had to take certain measures just to appease her then-boss.

“It was so difficult because I realized that I couldnâ€t dance to save my life,†Natalya recalled. “I tried so, so hard. I took dance classes, I hired private coaches to try to [teach me], because I had always heard Vince loved dancing. So I wanted to learn, let me learn how to dance. Theyâ€ll love that. I sucked at it. I wrote about that in the book. But I was like, I gotta try to lose weight. I gotta try to be thin. I gotta look like Torrie Wilson. I always had Torrie on this pedestal because sheâ€s to me, I love her physique and sheâ€s so beautiful. I was like, I always wanted to look like Torrie, but I couldnâ€t, because my bodyâ€s not like Torrieâ€s.â€

Natalya explains how she changed her approach

“I realized that all these things that I thought that they wanted at that time, I was like, ‘I know what theyâ€ll like. What if I made every single girl I worked with look like gold? What if I was the, maybe not the star, but you know what I can do really well, Iâ€ll be the star maker. Iâ€ll be Vinceâ€s Star Maker.†I wanted to be Vinceâ€s Star Maker. I wanted to be the girl that Vince would go, or creative would go, ‘put her with Nattie.â€

“Because when I was first getting started, I was like, ‘they donâ€t want me. They donâ€t want this. Iâ€m never going to be them. Iâ€m never going to look like Torrie. Iâ€m never going to look like Kelly Kelly. But you know what I can do? I can make those girls look like a million bucks, and that will be how I get my in.†And I actually started to look at myself the way that I felt like they were looking at me, where I was like, ‘I donâ€t really know if Iâ€m worthy of being the champion, I donâ€t think I am.’â€

Elsewhere in the same interview, Natalya talked about her new gimmick under Triple Hâ€s creative leadership. Fans can check out her full comment here.

Read More: WWE Raw Results: Review, Grades, Card For Oct 20

Source link

One Difficult 40-Man Roster Decision For Every MLB Team

In December, the Winter Meetings culminate with the Rule 5 draft, where each team with at least one open 40-man MLB roster spot has the chance to select unprotected players from other organizations. Though not as popular as the First-Year Player Draft in July, the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft gives teams the opportunity to add potentially valuable players for the minimal cost of $100,000.

The majority of these players get returned to their original teams, but those who stick on rosters can pay major dividends. In last year’s draft, the White Sox selected righthanded pitcher Shane Smith who threw 146.1 innings, put up 2.4 bWAR and became an all-star. On the position player side, Liam Hicks put up 1.3 bWAR in 390 plate appearances and turned into a viable major league catcher for the Marlins.

The decision-making process as to whether to protect players from the Rule 5 draft is complex and teams don’t have a one-size-fits-all strategy. They often weigh a multitude of factors including proximity, performance and health when making those decisions, and while some players are easy decisions, others are not. Here is an early look at every organizationâ€s toughest Rule 5 decision ahead of the November protection deadline.

Teams must set their reserve lists/40-man rosters by 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18. The Rule 5 draft will be on Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.

The Orioles went significantly over slot to sign Fabian in the second round of the 2022 draft, but inconsistent contact and swing decisions have slowed his progress. Through May 31, he appeared to turn a corner, hitting .231/.335/.468 with 10 home runs and a 28% strikeout rate in his second stint in the upper minors. His momentum faded in June before a left wrist strain sidelined him for a month. He struggled to regain form in his return, batting .135/.317/.216 with three homers and a 35% strikeout rate over his final 190 plate appearances.

Fabian did show improved contact ability, cutting his Triple-A strikeout rate from 41% in 2024 to 32%. If he can sustain that growth, he has an otherwise intriguing set of major league traits with a combination of power (112 mph max EV), patience (17% BB rate and 22% chase rate), speed and outfield defense. His set of intriguing tools and early-season glimpse of progress could make this a tough roster decision for the Orioles.

Boston Red Sox

Shane Drohan, LHP

Drohan is a unique case. The White Sox already selected him once in the 2023 Rule 5 draft, so if he’s picked again and doesn’t stick on that team’s roster, there’s no guarantee he’ll return to the Red Sox because of a rarely-used rule requiring his approval to do so a second time. Drohan was very impressive with Triple-A Worcester this season but teams will have to parse through a checkered medical history. He underwent a nerve decompression procedure on his left shoulder last year while with Chicago. This year, Drohan missed just over three months with left forearm tightness, but he showed impressive stuff on either side of the injury.

He posted a 34.5% strikeout rate, driven by a five-pitch mix where four of his pitches (fastball, slider, curveball and changeup) had whiff rates over 35%. He also was especially effective against lefties, limiting them to a .446 OPS. Given that the Red Sox risk losing him entirely and teams generally covet bat-missing lefty relievers in the Rule 5 draft, he’s a tricky 40-man decision.

New York Yankees

Chase Hampton, RHP

On raw talent alone, Hampton would seem like an easy addition to the Yankees 40-man roster. His injury history, however, complicates the decision. A Top 100 Prospect entering 2024, Hampton broke out the previous year by striking out 145 batters over 107 innings with a five-pitch mix that included a mid-90s fastball and two bat-missing breaking balls. But a right flexor strain sidelined him for the first half of 2024 and when he returned, his stuff had backed up. Hampton then missed all of the 2025 season because of Tommy John surgery, so he’s barely pitched in the last two years, and other pitchers such as Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Cam Schlittler have passed him on the depth chart. Hampton’s injury history could actually work in his favor as a Rule 5 pick. If he begins next season on the injured list before returning to action, it cuts the number of days he needs to be on the active roster.

Tampa Bay Rays

Jadher Areinamo, 2B

The Rays acquired Areinamo from the Brewers just ahead of the trade deadline as he was in the midst of another strong season in High-A. The 5-foot-8 middle infielder was hitting .297/.355/.463 in 415 plate appearances after leading the league in hitting 2024. The Rays quickly promoted him to Double-A Montgomery and there he hit .255/.316/.397 over 159 plate appearances.

Areinamo is a hit-over-power infielder, with strong bat-to-ball skills, but an aggressive approach. His strikeout rate barely changed with the promotion—rising from 11.6% to 11.9%—and heâ€s shown he can handle velocity, though heâ€s prone to expanding the zone. The Rays once again have a log-jam of players that need to be added to the 40-man roster. As a result, they could leave Areinamo unprotected given his limited upper-minors experience. That could be a risk, though, as his offensive profile combined with the ability to play every infield position, except first base, could fit well in a utility role on a rebuilding team.

Toronto Blue Jays

Yondrei Rojas, RHP

After a solid but unspectacular 2024, the 22-year-old Rojas burst onto the scene this year putting up a 1.43 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 37.2 innings in High-A and Double-A. His under-the-hood data was even more intriguing.

Rojas’ mid-90s cutter had a 142 Stuff+, the best mark in the minors. The pitch has good velocity from a flat approach angle and generated a 30% whiff rate. Rojas leans heavily on his cutter, throwing it more than twice as much as any other pitch, but he also mixes in a mid-90s sinker, slider, changeup and the occasional sweeper—all with whiff rates above 30% besides the sweeper.

While he’s undersized at 5-foot-10, his cutter alone will draw attention from analysts and he has the type of stuff teams covet in a bullpen Rule 5 arm. He missed the first month of the season and logged just 14 Double-A innings, leaving limited upper-level experience. Rojas will pitch in the Arizona Fall League, giving the Blue Jays—and rival evaluators—one final look before the Rule 5 decision deadline.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox

Peyton Pallette, RHP

After their pitching development took a step forward this year, the White Sox have a crowded group of intriguing arms eligible for Rule 5 protection. Pallette sits in the second tier of that group. Drafted in the second round in 2022 as a starter, heâ€s now a full-time reliever who split the season between Double-A and Triple-A. Pallette was solid early but struggled following a late-May promotion, seeing his strikeout rate dip by more than 10 percentage points and his groundball rate cut in half.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s but has long been hittable, and heâ€s relied more on his secondaries. In Triple-A, he still threw his fastball just over 50% of the time, but its generic shape limited effectiveness. His secondaries—a high-spin curveball, changeup and slider—all generated whiff rates above 35%. As we’ve seen in the playoffs, MLB teams want velocity and fastballs that miss bats out of the bullpen, so Palette might not be an ideal fit, but his combination of pedigree, performance and secondaries will force the White Sox to think long and hard.

Cleveland Guardians

Kahlil Watson, OF

Watson once ranked No. 60 on the 2022 Top 100 after going in the first round to the Marlins in 2021. The Guardians acquired Watson at the 2023 trade deadline and entering 2025, his athleticism and power remained enticing, but his swing decisions and contact skills continued to lag behind. This season, Watson showed progress. In 49 games in Triple-A, he had his highest walk rate and lowest strikeout rate since 2023 and the highest OPS of his career (minimum 10 games played at a level).

Beneath the surface, his 49% hard-hit rate, 91.1 mph average exit velocity and 111 mph max EV all ranked well above-average for the level. Even so, his chase, whiff and zone-contact rates remained below-average, signaling persistent approach concerns. Watson moved to the outfield full time this year and while his reads and routes are still a work in progress, thereâ€s a pathway to him becoming a fringe-average defender there. Given Clevelandâ€s depth of young talent, the Guardians could try to sneak him through unprotected—but that carries risk for a player with this kind of bat speed and raw power.

Detroit Tigers

Trei Cruz, UTIL

The switch-hitting Cruz enjoyed a breakout 2025 after going unselected in last yearâ€s Rule 5 draft. Returning to Double-A Erie for a fourth stint, he posted the highest OPS of his career—up more than 100 points from his previous best—earning a promotion to Triple-A Toledo, where he hit even better. In Toledo, Cruz produced a .284/.423/.458 line with above-average hard-hit rates and exit velocities while continuing to show a disciplined approach marked by frequent walks and a low chase rate.

Cruz can get overly passive at times and his power remains limited, but he offers solid defense and versatility, capable of handling shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots. His age (27) and the Tigers†depth work against him, with multiple utility players already on the 40-man roster and several younger, higher-upside infielders on the way. Still, Cruzâ€s steady offensive performance and defensive flexibility could make him an appealing high-floor option for another team if heâ€s left unprotected.

Kansas City Royals

Frank Mozzicato, LHP

After an inconsistent start to his pro career since being drafted seventh overall in 2021, Mozzicato opened 2025 with a solid stretch for High-A Quad Cities and earned a Futures Game nod. His promotion to Double-A in May, however, brought significant struggles. Mozzicato posted a WHIP just under 2.00 and issued more walks than strikeouts.

Mozzicato had been surprisingly effective to that point despite lighter stuff, but it seemed to finally catch up to him in the upper minors. Mozzicato’s fastball still tops out in the low 90s and he struggles to hold velocity. His secondaries show more potential, but he hasnâ€t been able to consistently land them for strikes. It’s unlikely the Royals protect him because of his performance stuff, but given his draft pedigree and their development investment in him, the decision might not be as straightforward as it seems.

Minnesota Twins

Hendry Mendez, OF

Mendez was one of six players acquired by the Twins at the trade deadline who now rank in their Top 30. He came over from Philadelphia in the Harrison Bader deal after producing an .808 OPS in his first stint at Double-A Reading, then improved to a .911 OPS in 142 plate appearances with Double-A Wichita.

A potential plus hitter, Mendez pairs strong contact skills and a patient approach. He rarely misses on pitches in the zone and his high walk rate is matched by solid underlying approach metrics. He also tapped into more power this year, hitting a career-high 11 home runs after entering the season with 12 total. His exit velocity data impressed as well. But even though the 6-foot-2 outfielder hits the ball hard, his swing lacks loft leading to a very high groundball rate. This year (54%) was no exception, and he also provides little defensive value as he’s limited to left field as a fringy runner.

Mendez’s strange combination of skills are atypical for a Rule 5 target. But his age (22 on opening day) and hitting track record could make him a target for model-oriented teams who believe they can teach him to elevate more. The Twins have some tough pitching decisions, which could push him to the bubble. Other teams are getting one last look at Mendez in the Arizona Fall League before the November protection deadline.

AL West

Athletics

Daniel Susac, C

If the decision were based solely on surface numbers, protecting Susac would seem straightforward. In his first stint at Triple-A Las Vegas, he hit .275/.349/.483 with 18 home runs in 407 plate appearances. But Las Vegas is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball, and his underlying metrics paint a more mixed picture.

Susacâ€s exit velocity data is middle of the pack, and both his hit tool and swing decisions remain question marks. He improved his chase rate from 41% in 2024 to 37%, but that’s still well below-average, and he swings and misses at a high clip, leading to concerns about how his bat will translate against more advanced pitching. Defensively, Susac is a playable catcher although unlikely to add a lot of value. He has a strong arm, but his framing needs work and he lacks mobility because of his size. With Shea Langeliers entrenched and two veteran catchers already on the 40-man, the Aâ€s may struggle to find room. Still, given league-wide catching scarcity, Susac could be an appealing trade target if left unprotected.

Houston Astros

Miguel Ullola, RHP

Even though he ranks among the Astros’ Top 10  Prospects, Ullola went unprotected last year and remains a tough decision again this year. In his first full season at Triple-A, he spent most of the year in the rotation before finishing with two short relief outings. Like past years, he showed bat-missing ability, but really struggled to throw consistent strikes.

The intrigue here is his combination of extension and raw stuff. Four of his pitches graded above 110 in Stuff+. Ullola’s primary offering is a 93 mph fastball with an impressive 18.9 inches of induce vertical break and a 31% whiff rate, albeit with spotty command. Those location struggles carried over to his secondary offerings. As a result, he completed six innings only three times and had just two walk-free appearances all season.

Ullolaâ€s profile now points more toward a bullpen role, where his stuff could play up in shorter bursts. The Astros began exploring that late in the year, but his strike-throwing questions make him a volatile option, and the Astros may be tempted to try to sneak him through once again.

Los Angeles Angels

Matthew Lugo, OF

The Angels’ system ranked 25th in Baseball America’s latest farm system talent rankings, which is a modest improvement, but it still lacks depth and doesn’t have many difficult 40-man decisions. The toughest call is Lugo, who made his major league debut after coming over from the Red Sox at the 2024 trade deadline.

Big league arms exploited Lugo’s aggressive approach. He put up -0.5 bWAR in 70 plate appearances, didn’t take a single walk and struck out 34% of the. His Triple-A contact rate was just under 70%. Once an infielder, Lugo now plays exclusively outfield, so his defensive versatility has diminished over time. His limited profile poses a challenge, though he does hit lefthanders well and could carve out a platoon corner role. Still, given his limited ceiling, the Angels may be better served exploring trades with clubs facing tougher protection crunches, targeting higher-upside players in exchange for lower-level talent.

Seattle Mariners

Ryan Bliss, 2B

The Mariners were among the most aggressive buyers at the trade deadline, dealing from their farm system to bolster the 2025 roster. That thinned out their Rule 5 pool, leaving second baseman Ryan Bliss as their toughest 40-man call. Bliss began the season as Seattleâ€s starting second baseman but tore his left biceps in April, then re-injured himself during an August rehab assignment with a meniscus tear that ended his year.

Bliss’ plus speed and ability to hit lefthanded pitching well should appeal to teams. But his size is limiting and the Mariners’ second base depth chart has changed after Cole Young took over at second base before Jorge Polanco later reclaimed the position. Polanco has a player option for next year, but given he has been one of the Mariners best hitters this season it is easy to see a scenario where they look to bring him back.

Bliss has never played shortstop in the big leagues, so Seattle must decide whether he’s capable of filling a reserve infielder role, and Colt Emerson’s impending arrival only makes things more crowded. Bliss could find himself squeezed considering the Mariners’ competitive window and fair amount of depth up the middle.

Texas Rangers

Cameron Cauley, 2B/SS/OF

A third-round pick in 2021, Cauley put up a solid .253/.325/.448 line with 15 home runs and 28 steals in Double-A this year. Even more encouraging: Cauley posted the lowest strikeout rate of his career (24.7%), down from 29.2% in High-A last year. He also cut his chase rate (25%) down from 40% a year ago.

Cauley’s contact ability and hit tool development were areas of concern in an otherwise promising profile. Heâ€s a plus runner with good instincts, a plus thrower and could be a plus defender at multiple positions. This year, he split time between shortstop, second base and center field. That up-the-middle versatility and tool set should be intriguing to teams looking for an infielder, even if his limited upper-minors track record works against him. What once looked like an easy non-protection before the season now seems far less certain.

NL East

Atlanta Braves

Blake Burkhalter, RHP

Burkhalter got off to a strong start in Double-A Columbus this year, but struggled after he was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett in July. He saw his strikeout rate drop from 21% in Double-A to 18% and his walk rate rise from 10% to 12%. Last year in High-A Rome, Burkhalter had no issues throwing strikes, so this could be an outlier, especially as his control struggles were mainly out of the bullpen where he was pitching for the first time since college.

Burkhalter primarily relies on a low-to-mid-90s fastball and high-80s cutter, while also mixing in a changeup and curveball. His fastball has solid ride and a whiff rate around 30%, and his cutter looks like a pitch he can consistently land in the zone and generate chase against. Burkhalter’s 6-foot frame and lack of a consistent third offering limits his upside and Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2023 season. He likely profiles best in a bullpen in the long run, leaving the Braves with a tough decision on whether to leave him unprotected and take their chances.

Miami Marlins

Andrew Pintar, OF

There are more heralded players on this list, but Pintar actually fits the mold of a Rule 5 target because he’s a potentially plus center fielder and runner who can hit lefthanded pitching. Pintar slashed .269/.338/.384 with four home runs, 24 steals and drastic platoon splits (.679 OPS against righties compared to .924 OPS versus lefties) for Triple-A Jacksonville this year. And while his platoon splits were previously never that severe, he has always struck out significantly less against lefthanders. Pintar struck out 33% of the time against righties compared to 15% against lefties, and in 2024 it was 22% against righties and 12% against lefties.

Pintar’s ability to make contact has always been the weakest part of his game, and if the Marlins choose to leave him unprotected it’ll be because of his hit tool variance. He could also stand to better elevate the ball to maximize his above-average raw power. Miami acquired Pintar from the D-backs in the A.J. Puk deal. Will his speed, defense and ability to hit lefties entice them to protect him with an eye on a reserve outfielder role?

New York Mets

Nick Morabito, OF

Since being drafted in the second round in 2022 out of a Washington, D.C., high school, Morabito has done nothing but hit. In his first season facing Double-A pitching, he batted .273/.348/.385 over 492 plate appearances with six home runs and 49 steals. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, heâ€s slightly undersized and power isnâ€t a major part of his game, though he set career highs with 35 extra-base hits and a 110 mph max exit velocity. To tap into more impact, heâ€ll need to elevate the ball more. His 54% groundball rate and limited pull-side loft cap his slugging potential.

Even without those adjustments, Morabito’s plus center field and plus-plus speed provide a pathway to becoming a big leaguer. He’s also an above-average hitter who does a solid job making contact and limiting chase. Morabito would benefit from more minor league seasoning, which the Mets will take into consideration, but his relatively high floor and skill set could be intriguing to a team searching for a reserve outfielder with some long-term upside if he’s unprotected.

Philadelphia Phillies

Alex McFarlane, RHP

After missing 2024 because of Tommy John surgery, McFarlane returned healthy this year and threw 80 innings between High-A and Double-A. He opened the season in the rotation, but struggled and was moved to the bullpen in mid-August—his likely long-term home because his plus fastball-slider combination.

McFarlane throws both a four-seam and sinker with both pitches sitting in the mid-90s and maxing out around 100 mph. His sinker has more potential. It had the highest in-zone rate of his arsenal and a 115 Stuff+, seventh-best among minor league sinkers this year. His slider also grades well in Stuff+ models with the pitch showing solid two-plane break in the mid-to-low 80s. He mixes in a changeup, though itâ€s inconsistent and often identifiable out of the hand. Even so, the Phillies might not want to risk losing McFarlane’s potential power sinker-slider combination out of the bullpen this November.

Washington Nationals

Andry Lara, RHP

Once one of the premier arms in the 2019 international class, Lara signed with the Nationals for $1.25 million and was added to the 40-man roster last November after a strong 2024 season. Lara’s stuff and results backed up considerably in 2025. Now more physically filled out, his athleticism has regressed as well.

Lara works with a three-pitch mix of a fastball, splitter and slider, but none project better than average. His 93 mph fastball touched 96, but by the end of the year maxed out at 93 in relief. The pitch grades out poorly in models and rarely misses bats with a 13% whiff rate this year. His secondaries both flash bat-missing ability on occasion, but he struggles to land them competitively and hitters could wait him out for his fastball.

Lara’s lack of a viable fastball will only be magnified in a bullpen role. With new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni reassessing the roster, Laraâ€s 40-man spot could be in danger if he can’t recover his velocity.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

James Triantos, 2B/OF

Triantos seemed primed for a big league debut in 2025, yet the call never came amid an inconsisten Triple-A season where he slashed .258/.315/.369 in 444 plate appearances, a sharp drop from 2024 when he hit .300/.346/.427 between Double-A and Triple-A. His contact skills remained solid, highlighted by a 15% strikeout rate and 14% in-zone whiff rate, but better pitchers took advantage of his aggressive approach. His 34% chase rate was below-average, and his impact ability lagged behind, with only fringe-average barrel and hard-hit rates and a 90th-percentile exit velocity of roughly 103 mph.

Triantos improved considerably at second bae in 2024 and began playing more positions this season. By the end of the year, he spent more time in the outfield than the infield. That growing versatility could enhance his value, as his profile now fits more as a potential utility option than an everyday regular. Triantos has pedigree and prior production, so the Cubs could still choose to protect him, though their decision is murkier now because of several intriguing arms also in need of 40-man consideration.

Cincinnati Reds

Edwin Arroyo, 2B/SS

Both Arroyo and Hector Rodriguez are both Rule 5-eligible Reds Top 10 Prospects. Both are likely to get protected, but Arroyo is the more difficult call. He missed all of 2024 because of labrum surgery, then hit .284/.345/.371 in 521 Double-A plate appearances this season.

While Arroyo posted the lowest strikeout rate (16.9%) of his career and made consistent in-zone contact, his approach still needs work. He chased 31% of the time and walked at just a 7.7% clip. Defense is his calling card. He’s a potential plus defender at either shortstop or second base, and his plus throwing arm has a shot to profile at third base as well.

That defensive profile gives him a relatively high floor and one that appeal to a team looking for an infielder with long-term upside who they can develop starting out on their bench. As a result, even though heâ€s not major league ready, the Reds likely have to protect him.

Milwaukee Brewers

Will Childers, RHP

One archetype teams heavily target in the Rule 5 draft is the reliever with intriguing underlying pitch data. Childers fits the mold perfectly. Heâ€s also another example of the Brewers†knack for drafting and developing undervalued arms. Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2019 out of high school, Childers instead attended Georgia, where injuries limited him to just 12.1 innings across three years. After signing with Milwaukee as an undrafted free agent in 2022, he finally debuted in 2023 and has pitched exclusively in relief since.

Childers has a unique delivery with a short arm action and high slot that generates ride on a mid-90s fastball that tickles 99 mph with solid control. He pairs it with two breaking balls, a curveball and a more promising slider with better whiff rates and grades out well in models. Scouts are more mixed on his upside and he struggled upon reaching Triple-A, where his strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate climbed, but his stuff-driven profile could make him a tempting bullpen flier if left unprotected.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez, 1B/OF

Valdez emerged as one of the Pirates†most productive hitters this season, dominating in hitter-friendly Greensboro before earning a promotion to Double-A Altoona. He finished with a .286/.376/.520 line and 26 home runs, though much of that damage came at High-A, where his OPS (.977) far outpaced his mark in Double-A (.772).

Valdez’s power is real and he has some of the best impact in Pittsburgh’s system. his 115 mph max exit velocity and elite barrel rates would compare favorably even at the major league level. That impact comes with tradeoffs. His contact skills remain a work in progress, though he took a step forward this season by raising his contact rate to around 70%. Continued growth in that area will determine how much of his power translates, as nearly all his value resides in his bat. Defensively, heâ€s limited to first base or a corner outfield spot and he’s a below-average runner.

Valdez’s lack of secondary skills or Triple-A experience makes this a tough call for the Pirates, especially since his offensive profile will probably struggle at first against better pitching. Still, will the Pirates risk losing promising offensive upside to another team willing to stash Valdez on their bench?

St. Louis Cardinals

Joshua Baez, OF

Baez broke out in 2025 after making mechanical adjustments to unlock a level of contact he had never shown before. Entering the season, he wasnâ€t on the Rule 5 radar at all, as he had yet to reach the upper minors and was coming off a season with a 35.5% strikeout rate. He slashed his strikeout rate down to 20.6% this year while moving up to Double-A. His underlying contact metrics also improved.

Most encouragingly, Baez made those gains without sacrificing impact. He had the highest slugging percentage of his career with well above-average exit velocities. His batted ball profile also improved dramatically, as he traded infield popups for hard line drives and groundballs. The result is a hitter who now projects to make enough contact to fully access his plus-plus power. Combined with a plus arm and fringe-average defense, Baez has the ingredients of a potential everyday player.

The Cardinals don’t have a true 40-man dilemma because Baez will almost certainly get protected, but his off-the-radar season merits recognition.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

Christian Cerda, C

Cerda broke out in 2025, pairing surprising offensive ability with his already solid defensive foundation. He raised his OPS from .691 to .789 while cutting his strikeout rate from 20% to 17.5%. Some of that could be attributed to hitter-friendly Armarillo, but his underlying metrics also improved. He saw his overall contact rate rise along with his zone-contact rate, which sits at a very respectable 83%. His exit velocities still didnâ€t jump off the page and he is unlikely to have more than below-average power, but any offense he can provide will be a bonus given his defensive profile.

Defensively, Cerda projects as at least an above-average defender with good lateral agility, solid receiving skills and an above-average arm. He threw out 30% of attempted base stealers this year, though consistency remains an area of focus. With limited catching depth around the game, it’s easy to see a team taking a chance on Cerda as a backup catcher. The D-backs†decision may hinge on whether they re-sign veteran backup James McCann or trust Cerda to fill that role in 2026.

Colorado Rockies

Gabriel Hughes, RHP

The Rockies made Hughes their first-round pick in 2022, but his development has been interrupted by injuries. After missing all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, he returned late that year in the Arizona Fall League and logged his first full season back in 2025. Hughes relied heavily on a low-90s cut fastball, throwing it just over 40% of the time while mixing in a slider, curveball, sinker and changeup between 11% and 16% of the time.

None of his offerings stood out metrically, though his slider and curveball generated the highest whiff rates, and his sinker proved most effective at limiting hard contact despite being his fourth most-used pitch. Overall, he struggled to miss bats and generate chase, which limits his strikeout upside.

With the Rockies in transition and searching for a new head of baseball operations, itâ€s unclear how the incoming regime will evaluate the organizationâ€s arms. Given his draft pedigree but modest current profile, Hughes could find himself on the 40-man bubble despite being only three years removed from going No. 10 overall.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Ronan Kopp, LHP

The Dodgers are so deep that Kopp didn’t crack their Midseason Top 30 Prospects even though he had one of Triple-A’s highest strikeout rates. The 6-foot-7 lefty has a massive frame and two potentially plus pitches, but his control issues are so severe he finds himself on the 40-man bubble.

Kopp has a deceptive delivery. He’s a short-strider with a high release height and steep approach angle. Kopp throws everything hard. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 98.9 mph, while his slider averages around 90 mph. Both pitches miss bats—his slider generated a 44% whiff rate and his fastball 32%—but neither found the strike zone more than 50% of the time. And when Kopp misses with his fastball, hitters barrel it. Encouragingly, Kopp struck out 19 over his last 11.1 innings with just five walks after previously walking more than a batter per inning in Triple-A.

Still, Kopp has never posted a walk rate below 15.3%. There’s a case for the Dodgers to leave him unprotected because of his strike-throwing track record. However, it won’t be an easy call. Lefties with his size and stuff are hard to find.

San Diego Padres

Francis Pena, RHP

Pena is another potential reliever who fits the mold teams prioritize in the Rule 5 draft. The sinker-slider righthander breezed through the Padres’ system prior to this year before finally running into some trouble in Triple-A.

Pena’s deceptive mid-90s fastball maxes out at 99 with over seven feet of extension from his 6-foot-1 frame, and it gets on hitters quickly. His high-80s slider has decent separation, missing bats and generating chase even when he couldn’t land it for strikes consistently. Overall, his strike-throwing backed up in 2025 and his walk rate doubled to 14.3% while his strikeout rate dropped from 25.1% to 19.8%, though the expected results on his pitches remained impressive.

With San Diegoâ€s 40-man already deep in right-handed relievers, Penaâ€s regression in command has turned what once looked like an easy protection call into a much tougher decision.

San Francisco Giants

Marco Luciano, OF

Luciano represents one of the Giants’ toughest offseason decisions. Once a Top 100 Prospect, his stock has fallen considerably. Luciano didn’t appear in a major league game this year and no longer ranks among the Giants’ Top 10 Prospects. The decline stems from both defensive regression down the spectrum—heâ€s now a full-time left fielder—and an ongoing inability to make consistent contact or adjust to secondary pitches.

Lucianoâ€s contact rate dropped to 64% this year, while his zone-whiff rate spiked from 18% to 27%. His chase rate held steady and he continued to draw walks, but the drop in contact further underscored a below-average hit tool. Luciano still produces impressive exit velocities when he makes contact, producing a 90th percentile exit velocity (108 mph) and max EV (just under 114 mph) that rank among the top 10% of all Triple-A hitters.

Out of options next season, Lucianoâ€s future in San Francisco is uncertain. If the Giants donâ€t see a clear role for him on the 26-man roster, a trade could be on the table before the Rule 5 protection deadline.

Source link