The Blue Jays' History Taking Pitchers in the Rule 5 Draft

Spencer Miles has turned into an exceptional Rule 5 draft pick for the Toronto Blue Jays. He never threw above Single A before this season because of back and elbow surgeries. However, the team saw potential in the righty, and he’s been “Mr. Do-It-All” for the pitching staff.

He has started seven games, has been the bulk-inning eater after an opener, has held late leads ahead of the closer entering, and is 2-for-2 in save opportunities. Over 89 2/3 innings, Miles has a 6-2 record, a 2.72 ERA, 86 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a 1.06 WHIP. 

Seeing how successful a Rule 5 pick Miles has turned out to be made me wonder how other Blue Jays Rule 5 pitching selections fared. 

2024: Angel Bastardo - RHP, Boston Red Sox
Bastardo was a long-term investment pick. He made 10 starts in Double-A in 2024 before needing Tommy John surgery. So the Blue Jays used the 2025 season to rehab Bastardo, as he was only 22 when he got injured. During spring training in 2026, he threw 7 2/3 innings, posting a 4.70 ERA, a 5:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.57 WHIP. 

The righty stayed with the Blue Jays up until the final cuts, but Miles was the Rule 5 player who they kept. Since Bastardo didn’t make the team, he was designated for assignment and returned to the Red Sox organization.

2018: Elvis Luciano - RHP, Kansas City Royals
Luciano was a surprise selection for the Blue Jays. He had never pitched above Rookie ball, but at 18, Toronto saw potential. He pitched in low-leverage situations during the 2019 season, posting a 5.35 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP over 33 2/3 innings. The righty also tallied 27 strikeouts, but walked 24 batters. It was a respectable showing for a player of his age at the top level. Holding onto the teenager all season was a risk, but it gave the Blue Jays a promising prospect at a young age. However, that was the only time Luciano made it to the big leagues. 

2016: Glenn Sparkman - RHP, Kansas City Royals
Sparkman’s Toronto tenure was short-lived, as he pitched in two games while posting a 63.00 ERA, a walk, a strikeout, and a 10.00 WHIP over an inning of work. He was then returned to the Royals, for whom he pitched 179 1/3 innings over the following three seasons. He had a career 5.99 ERA and a 111:58 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

2015: Joe Biagini - RHP, San Francisco Giants
Biagini was one of the better Rule 5 picks for the Blue Jays during his rookie season. He had a 3.06 ERA over 67 2/3 innings, with 62 strikeouts and 19 walks. However, his production went downhill after 2016. He pitched two more seasons with Toronto, posting 5.34 and 6.00 ERAs. Splitting time between starting games and bullpen work may have contributed to those inflated numbers. The righty was pitching better in 2019 in a full bullpen role before getting traded in a package that included Aaron Sanchez to the Houston Astros for Derek Fisher. 

2013: Brian Moran - LHP, Seattle Mariners
After the Blue Jays selected Moran, they quickly traded him to the Los Angeles Angels for cash. He returned to Toronto in 2020 but pitched only one scoreless inning over two games, with one strikeout.

2009: Zech Zinicola - RHP, Washington Nationals
Zinicola never made it to the majors, despite posting a 3.74 ERA, a 3.39:160 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.36 WHIP over 385 innings in eight professional seasons. 

2007 - Randy Wells - RHP, Chicago Cubs
Wells pitched a scoreless inning for the Blue Jays, but that wasn’t enough for them to keep him. The righty was returned to the Cubs after the lone outing. He’d pitch the next four seasons for the North Siders, posting a 4.08 ERA over 529 career innings, with a 345:183 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.39 WHIP.

2003: Talley Haines - RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Haines was selected after posting a 2.53 ERA with 64 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP over 67 2/3 innings in Triple-A. However, he spent only the next season pitching for what was then the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse SkyChiefs. The righty posted a 3.87 ERA, a 53:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.20 WHIP over 79 innings.

During the 2005 season, Haines spent time with the Cubs and Red Sox minor-league teams. He also earned a spot on Team USA for the 2005 Baseball World Cup. 

2002: Aquilino Lopez - RHP, Seattle Mariners
Lopez was another successful Rule 5 draft selection. In his rookie season with the Blue Jays, he posted a 3.42 ERA, a 64:34 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.25 WHIP over 73 2/3 innings. However, the next season was a struggle. He posted a 6.00 ERA over 21 innings, and the Blue Jays did not bring him back in 2005.

2002: Gary Majewski - RHP, Chicago White Sox
Majewski couldn’t crack the Blue Jays’ lineup and was returned to the White Sox. He’d go on to pitch six seasons in the majors for five different teams.

2001: Corey Thurman - RHP, Kansas City Royals
Thurman pitched two seasons for Toronto, but they were a struggle. Those were his only seasons in the big leagues, and he posted a career 4.75 ERA, a 67:54 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.68 WHIP.

1995: Carey Paige - RHP, Atlanta Braves
Paige pitched only one season with the Blue Jays organization, at then-High-A Dunedin. He posted a 3.02 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and a 1.29 WHIP over 44 2/3 innings. However, it was his last affiliated season, as he played in the independent Atlantic League the next season.  

1992: Billy Taylor - RHP, Atlanta Braves
Taylor didn’t make the Blue Jays roster and was returned to the Braves. He’d go on to play seven MLB seasons for four teams, collecting 100 career saves.

1990: Ricky Rhodes - RHP, New York Yankees
Rhodes never made the Blue Jays roster and was returned to the Yankees. He spent five seasons in the minors, but never made it past High A. 

1986: José Núñez - RHP, Kansas City Royals
Núñez made 12 starts and 44 relief appearances for the Blue Jays over three seasons. In that span, he posted a 4.40 ERA and 131 strikeouts.

1985: José de Jesus - RHP, Kansas City Royals
De Jesus didn’t make the Blue Jays roster and was returned to the Royals. He spent five seasons in the majors playing for the Royals and Phillies.

1982: Jim Acker - RHP, Atlanta Braves
Acker spent more than half of his 10 big league seasons with the Blue Jays. They traded him to the Braves in 1986, but he returned to Toronto in '89 at the trade deadline and pitched two more seasons for them. He posted a 4.07 ERA during his two stints with the Blue Jays.

1982: Mercedes Esquer - LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Esquer spent three seasons with the Blue Jays’ then-Double-A affiliate in Knoxville, but never advanced higher in the organization. Afterward, he spent seven seasons in the Mexican League. 

1981: Jim Gott - RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Gott spent 14 seasons in the majors, with the first three being with the Blue Jays. Over that span, he started 65 games and pitched in relief in 34, posting a 4.45 ERA.

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