Blue Jays select pitcher Elvis Luciano in the Rule-5 Draft

The Toronto Blue Jays selected 18-year old pitcher Elvis Luciano from the Kansas City Royals with the 9th overall selection in the Rule-5 Draft.

The selection of Elvis Luciano will cost the Blue Jays $100,000 and will require the 18-year old remains on the 25-man roster for the entire 2019 campaign. If the Blue Jays decide to outright Luciano off the roster, he must be offered back to the Royals for $50,000.

The native of the Dominican Republic signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent in 2016 but was acquired by the Kansas City Royals in the Jon Jay trade last summer. Luciano was tabbed as the 23rd ranked prospect in the Royals organization last year.

Luciano spent last season with the Royals rookie affiliate going 5-5 with a 3.90 earned run average while fanning 70 in 67 innings of work. The 6’2″ right-hander made 12 starts but will presumably begin his MLB career pitching out of the Jays bullpen.

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The Jays passed on a Rule-5 selection last season but did select Glenn Sparkman from the Royals in 2016 and Joe Biagini from the Giants in 2015.

The Jays went into the draft with two open spots on their 40-man roster, however, opted for only one selection. Unfortunately, the Jays did lose pitcher Jordan Romano to the Chicago White Sox and Travis Bergen to the San Francisco Giants.

In the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, the Blue Jays selected 26-year old pitcher David Garner from the Chicago Cubs. Garner missed all of last season but spent the 2017 campaign between Double-A and Triple-A going 4-3 with a 3.25 earned run average while striking out 51 in 44.1 innings of work.

The Jays also lost left-handed pitcher Sam Moll to the Giants as part of the minor-league draft.

The Jays definitely took a gamble selecting an 18-year old to remain with the team for the entire 2019 campaign, however, in the midst of a rebuild the Jays are definitely seeking high upside talent which is what Luciano brings to the table.