Yankees Protect Three Players From Rule 5 Draft

Bridgewater, New Jersey- Major League Baseball's deadline for 40-man roster additions entering the 2022-23 offseason came and went at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15.

Starting on Wednesday, unprotected players that have withstood the duration of their team control are officially up for the taking of any MLB team willing to take a chance on them.

This includes players who are first signed at 18-years-old or younger, who have five seasons of eligibility, as well as players who are signed at 19 years or older, who must be protected within four seasons. If a player is left unprotected, they are exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place at the MLB Winter Meetings on December 7.

Any team that selects a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft must pay $100,000 and the player selected must remain on the team's 25-man roster for the full duration of the following MLB season. If this condition cannot be met and the player is designated for assignment, the player is then available on waivers for any other big league team to claim under the same conditions. If the player goes unclaimed, he is to be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

This week, the Yankees chose to protect three Rule 5 Draft eligible players: RHP Jhony Brito, LHP Matt Krook and RHP Randy Vasquez.

RHP Jhony Brito

The Yankees' first wave of 40-man roster additions came on Thursday, November 10, when former international free agent signing, RHP Jhony Brito was protected by the Yankees after having just concluded his fifth professional season with the Yankees. After modest numbers in the first four years of his career, the Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic native went 11-4 in 2022, posting a 2.96 ERA over 26 appearances (23 starts).

Brito began the season in Double-A Somerset, starting eight games and going 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA for the Patriots. Most notably, Brito was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for his efforts the week of May 2, when he pitched seven shutout innings vs. Portland and allowed only two baserunners in his third start of the season. Brito finished his season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 6-2 over 18 appearances with a 3.31 ERA. Overall, his 11 wins ranked second among all Yankees minor leaguers in 2022 and his 23 starts ranked fifth.

HERE'S JHONY‼️After his 7 shutout innings on Sunday, RHP Jhony Brito has been name @MiLB's Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
🎖 | https://t.co/TksmHtBvaH pic.twitter.com/t5EJF2vATD

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 2, 2022

LHP Matt Krook

Also added to the Yankees' 40-man roster with Brito on Thursday was LHP Matt Krook. Originally a fourth-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2016, Krook was plucked by the Yankees in the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He made his Yankees organizational debut as a member of the Patriots in 2021, starting seven games and going 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA. Krook then finished the 2021 season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and spent the duration of the 2022 season there as well.

In his two seasons with the Yankees organization, Krook has appeared in 53 games (43 starts), producing a 3.57 ERA and 287 strikeouts in 244.2 IP--both the most by any Yankees minor leaguer over the past two years. On July 1, 2022, Krook carried a perfect game into the 8th inning for the RailRiders. The performance was Krook's fourth no-hit bid of five or more innings at Triple-A over the last two seasons.

RHP Randy Vasquez

Moments before the Tuesday night deadline for 40-man roster additions, RHP Randy Vasquez was protected by the Yankees. The Navarette, Dominican Republic native spent the entirety of his fourth pro season in Double-A Somerset. In his four seasons with the Yankees, Vasquez has appeared in 68 games (64 starts), going 15-13 and posting a 3.10 ERA.

In 2022, Vasquez tied for third among Yankees minor leaguers with 25 starts, while his 120 strikeouts ranked eighth in the organization. Most recently, Vasquez earned the win in two of Somerset's four playoff games during the team's 2022 Eastern League Championship run. He started the first affiliated playoff game in Somerset Patriots franchise history on September 20, earning the win in Portland. Vasquez was then the winning pitcher in Somerset's Championship-clinching victory on September 28, when he hurled eight hitless innings (six perfect) as part of Somerset's third no-hitter in franchise history.

COMPLETE DOMINATION❗️@Yankees No. 15 prospect Randy Vasquez pitched 8 no-hit innings of a combined no-hitter in a championship clinching game.

His final line:
8⃣IP | 0⃣R | 0⃣H | 1⃣BB | 8⃣K#RepBX pic.twitter.com/1xqXVU2kJQ

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 29, 2022

Notes

One player left unprotected by the Yankees was RHP Stephen Ridings, who was claimed on waivers by the New York Mets shortly before Tuesday's deadline. In two minor league seasons with the Yankees, Ridings had posted a 1.16 ERA over 31.0 IP in 24 games, stockpiling 46 strikeouts over that time.

About the Somerset Patriots

The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots are the reigning Eastern League Champions and play their home games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball. To learn more, visit: somersetpatriots.com.