Detroit Tigers minor league shortstop Gustavo Nunez was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Thursday’s Rule 5 draft. Players not protected on a team’s 40-man roster were eligible to be drafted.
Nunez, 23, played in Class A Lakeland and Class AA Erie this season in the Tigers’ organization. Overall, he hit .276/.333/.386 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Defensively, Nunez commited nine errors in 397 chances.
Obviously, if the Tigers truly didn’t want to lose Nunez, he would’ve been protected on the 40-man roster. He’s been held in some regard as a shortstop prospect, but GM Dave Dombrowski said there were only so many spots available and other players they needed to keep.
Detroit will receive $50,000 from the Pirates for the selection. Nunez must stay on Pittsburgh’s major league roster all season, or be offered back to the Tigers (for $25,000) before being sent down to the minors.
The Tigers did not select a player in the Rule 5 draft. (Most teams pass, since the player has to be kept on the major league roster all season.) Dombrowski said there was a player he would’ve liked to pick, but that prospect was gone by the time the Tigers’ selection came up at No. 26.
You can see the full results of the Rule 5 draft at Bless You Boys.
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Jan 24
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