The Los Angeles Dodgers added prospects DJ Peters, Zach McKinstry and Mitchell White to their 40-man roster ahead of the deadline to protect eligible players from potentially being selected in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft.
The Dodgers previously added Victor Gonzalez to their 40-man roster, which now is full after Wednesday’s activity.
Eligible players for the annual Rule 5 Draft are those who signed at 18 years of age or younger and have five seasons of experience in professional baseball. Players signed at 19 or older and have four seasons of experience are also eligible to be drafted.
Jair Camargo, Parker Curry, Starling Heredia, Nolan Long, Brayan Morales, Jake Peter, Carlos Rincon, Errol Robinson, Cristian Santana, Jordan Sheffield, Shea Spitzbarth Cody Thomas, Leonel Valera and Nick Yarnall are among those in the Dodgers organization that could get selected.
Any player taken during the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft costs $50,000 and must spend the entire ensuing season on the new club’s active roster, or be offered back to their previous team for $25,000.
Last year the Dodgers selected the contracts of Yadier Alvarez, Matt Beaty, Edwin Rios, Keibert Ruiz and Josh Sborz. L.A lost Drew Jackson and Connor Joe in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft, but both players ultimately were returned to the organization.
Peters was with the Dodgers in big league camp on a non-roster invite, then was included on the Double-A Tulsa Opening Day roster. Peters batted .241/.331/.422 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 42 RBI over 68 games for the Drillers.
He was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City during the final week of June and went on bat .260/.388/.490 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 57 games.
McKinstry was with the Drillers at the start of the 2019 season and finished the year playing for Oklahoma City. He hit a combined .300/.366/.516 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 121 games. The Dodgers selected McKinstry in the 33rd round of the 2016 Draft.
White, who also was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year, began the season with Drillers. He pitched to a 2.10 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with a 5.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in seven starts before earning a promotion to Oklahoma City.
He appeared in one game for the Dodgers’ top Minor League affiliate, returned to Tulsa for one start, then rejoined Oklahoma City for good. White’s first time pitching at the Triple-A level yielded mixed results as he went 3-6 with a 6.50 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 16 games (13 starts).
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