Nats attempt to get Young in Rule-5 Draft

In the first pick in the Rule-5 Draft the Nationals selected right handed reliever Terrell Young from Cincinnati. The 23 year old reliever will be asked to contribute right away to the Nationals bullpen with his 93-96 MPH fastball and an improving slider.

Young split time between low A Dayton and high A Sarasota last season. In 25 games for Sarasota he struck out 26 in 33 innings. He allowed 31 hits and 13 walks and recorded a 2.41 ERA, proving that he probably deserved another promotion before seasons end.Do to Rule-5 Draft stipulations Young will have to make the Nationals club out of spring training and stay with the team the entire year. If he does not he will be automatically shipped back to Cincinnati. This is often the problem with players selected in the Rule-5 Draft, espessially for players with Young’s experience (or lack there of).

He is probably not ready for the bigs yet, and barring a great showing in spring training, he will most likely get sent back to Cinci. This is no guarantee however. Let us not forget that Jesus Flores was a Rule-5 selection for the Nats from the Mets several years ago and was in a similar situation as Young.

For only more proof that experience isn’t everything one must only look to Josh Hamilton. The 26 year old outfielder was selected in the Rule-5 draft by the Reds after having been out of professional baseball for half a decade…we all see where his career has gone since.