After Spencer Miles' breakout, Blue Jays should be all over these potential Rule 5 draft targets

Last winter, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Spencer Miles in the Rule 5 draft from the San Francisco Giants. To say the Blue Jays aced the pick would be an understatement as Miles has become a pivotal piece of the bullpen this season.

Baseball America lists several names currently in the Arizona Fall League (subscription required) who will need to be added to their 40-man rosters, and if they are not added, they become eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Given the success of Miles, should the Blue Jays try their luck again? If so, who should they look at?

The Blue Jays could target these players if they are left unprotected

Luke Fox (Dodgers)

Fox is making up for lost time as injuries derailed his 2026 season. Throughout his career, Fox generated lots of strikeouts, though he had issues with allowing walks. In 2026, Fox showed improved command as his 9.3% walk rate was the lowest of his career.

Fox uses a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, changeup, and cutter. His fastball and slider are above average, while his other two pitches grade as below average. Although he has worked as a starter, a team may want to move him to relief to maximize his fastball-slider combo.

Yoendris Gonzalez (Cubs)

Gonzalez is also making up for lost time due to injury. He missed the entire 2023 season and after pitching in five games in 2024, Gonzalez missed the rest of that season as well. In 2025, he appeared in only 22 games as injuries once again kept him out. This season, Gonzalez made his debut in May and manage to stay healthy.

Although he only reached High-A, Gonzalez has a lot of potential. When healthy, Gonzalez looked much improved as he showed an elite ability to generate strikeouts and limit walks. His 26.0 K-BB% would rank second in the Majors behind Jacob Misiorowski. With a strong AFL showing, it would not be a surprised to see a team take a chance on Gonzalez.

Braxton Bragg (Orioles)

Bragg missed all of 2026 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Throughout his career, Bragg generated lots of strikeouts while limiting walks. When he was healthy in 2025, his 25.5 K-BB% would have ranked third in the Majors, only behind Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet.

Not only can Bragg strike out hitters, he also induces a lot of ground balls. In his last healthy season, his 47% groundball rate would rank 13th in the Majors, ahead of future rotation mate, Shane Baz (46.7%).

Bragg's four-pitch mix grades as average to above-average. He uses a fastball, slider, changeup, and cutter. Already 25, if Bragg can show he is healthy and his stuff is back, a team will definitely take a chance on Bragg.

Patrick Reilly (Orioles)

After missing most of the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, Reilly returned this season and is getting extra development time. When Reilly got to Double-A, he looked more in control as he had a 27.5 K-BB% in 39.2 innings.

Reilly uses a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, splitter, and cutter. Reilly's 60-grade fastball sat in the mid-90s as a starter and touched 98, while his other pitches grade out as average at best. Reilly has struggled with command in his career, making him a great candidate to be a reliever if selected.

Hunter Mann (Rockies)

Mann's defining trait is his 6-foot-7 frame. Mann looked improved at Double-A as his K-BB% jumped from 15.8% at High-A to 23% at Double-A. Not only can he generate strikeouts and limit walks, he is elite at inducing ground balls as his 50.3% groundball rate would rank fourth in the Majors.

For Mann, any team that were to select him would be getting a reliever who is capable of preventing runs whether that is with strikeouts or groundballs. Already 25, Mann is knocking on the door for a Major League opportunity.

Estibenzon Jimenez (Phillies)

Jimenez spent the first seasons of his career between starting and relieving, where he had mixed results. He struggled with allowing home runs as his HR/9 was 1.21 and 1.46 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

In 2026, Jimenez was a full-time reliever. Jimenez benefitted from the move as he was able to generate more strikeouts and he cut down on the home runs. His strikeout rate went from 22% in 2025 to 26.4% this season, and only had a 0.6 HR/9.

Jimenez will be 25 for the 2027 season, and having already pitched over 100 innings at Double-A, Jimenez is ready for his next challenge.

Joey Dixon (Astros)

Barely pitch in four professional seasons as injuries derailed development? Check. Showed dominance in very limited sample size? Check. Getting time in the AFL to make up for all the lost time? Check. Dixon's career arc has mimicked Miles' career.

Dixon is a huge lottery ticket as he has only pitched in three professional games across four seasons. In 6.1 innings this season, Dixon had 14 strikeouts to two walks, good for a 50.0 K-BB%. If Dixon has a strong showing the AFL, do not be surprised if a team takes a chance on him with the hopes he can be something similar to Miles.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow