Seven Rule-5 Eligible Players Who Could Impact A Roster In 2026

The Rule-5 draft is an intriguing time for both the folks who follow prospects closely and those who do not. Historically, most Rule 5 Draft picks have been players that teams see as potential bullpen pieces, or a position player who can fill a role-player spot on the roster, such as a fourth outfielder or middle infielder. These players are typically not expected to be starting-caliber right away, but rather to fill a spot that would otherwise have gone to a player who was on the verge of making the roster.

To be eligible for the Rule-5 draft, a player must meet one of the following requirements, per MLB.com: Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club's 40-man roster within five seasons, or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.  

Here is a look at seven players who were not protected and added to their respective teams' 40-man rosters and could make an impact with the right opportunity in 2026. I’ve identified one catcher, one middle infielder, one outfielder, and four pitchers who are eligible to be selected in the Rule-5 draft come December 10.

Note: All prospect rankings are per MLB Pipeline.

Daniel Susac - C
A’s #11 prospect

Susac, a former first-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Arizona, has steadily risen through the minor league ranks since being drafted. Susac has proven to be solid defensively and seems likely to stick at the position, which is often a question for catchers who hit well in the minors. He played the 2025 season at Triple-A Las Vegas, which plays in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Susac held his own at the plate, hitting .275/.349/.483 over 97 games and 360 at-bats. Susac is behind both Shea Langeliers and Austin Wynns on the Athletics catching depth chart, and if taken in the Rule-5 draft, may get an opportunity sooner than he would if he stays in the Athletics organization. 

For a team looking for a backup catcher, Susac could fill that role nicely and be eased into a big league opportunity. It’s not often you see a former first-round pick at catcher with a year at Triple A under his belt available in the Rule 5 Draft, so Susac may find himself in a new organization before the calendar flips to 2026. 

Blake Burkhalter - RHP
Braves #11 prospect

Blake Burkhalter was a 2nd round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 draft out of Auburn University, where he served as a relief pitcher. He has worked his way up the minor league ladder since being drafted, spending the 2025 season at Double A and finishing the year in Triple A. He has worked both as a starter and as a reliever in his professional career. While he has not struck out batters at a high rate, he did throw over 100 innings this past year, both as a starter and out of the bullpen. He has also done a solid job of keeping the ball in the ballpark, allowing 0.4 HR/9 over three minor league seasons.

With a history of injuries, most prominently Tommy John surgery shortly after his professional career started, one may think he is destined to be a reliever. Still, he has been given the chance to start up to this point. If a team decided to draft him in the Rule 5 Draft, he would more than likely work out of the bullpen with the ability to be a swing man or a spot starter when necessary. Burkhalter has shown he can throw all four of his pitches for strikes, which is a useful asset regardless of his role on the pitching staff. While he has the potential to be a viable starting pitcher, using him as a reliever could be a good move for a team looking for some bullpen depth with some upside of being a later-inning weapon if things unfold that way. 

Brandon Birdsell, RHP
Cubs #9 prospect

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Birdsell was elevated to Double-A in his first professional season in 2023. He was named the Cubs minor league pitcher of the year in 2024, but started the 2025 season on the injured list with elbow issues. After coming back, he looked pretty solid before having season-ending elbow surgery in August. The injury may make teams shy away because they are unsure of his health. In 33 2/3 innings when healthy in 2025, he pitched to a 2.94 ERA with 33 strikeouts and a .238 average against.

Birdsell was on pace to make his major league debut this past season, so if a team thinks he could make an impact after an injury-marred season, it is possible he is selected in the Rule-5 draft. While injured players are not often selected, if a team feels he is worth a 40-man roster spot until he is back healthy, it's not out of the question that he is selected by a team that sees him as someone they could ease him in as a reliever coming off the injury this past year. 

Peter Heubeck - RHP
Dodgers #23 prospect

Heubeck was a third-round pick (101st overall) in 2021. Heubeck was an above-slot signing after being drafted and has added velocity since then. He hasn’t consistently thrown strikes in pro ball, posting a 5.5 BB/9 since being drafted. A reason a team might be intrigued by Heubeck is his 11.4 K/9 over that same time period. Heubeck spent the 2025 season with Double-A Tulsa, where he started 16 games with a 4.34 ERA over 66 1/3 innings, recording 77 strikeouts and 34 walks. He also had a .198 average against, which could be intriguing for a team looking for a bullpen arm that has some high-octane raw stuff, as long as they can reign in his overall repertoire.

If selected, Heubeck could serve as a spot starter or low-leverage reliever, with the upside of taking on higher-leverage spots if the results follow. If a team believes they can help him with the control issues and allow him time to have his ups and downs, Heubeck could develop into a nice Rule 5 selection. 

Noah Miller - SS
Dodgers #25 prospect

The younger brother of Rockies infielder Owen Miller, Noah, was a first-round compensatory pick, 36th overall, by the Minnesota Twins in 2021. The Dodgers acquired Miller in 2024 in a trade for Manuel Margot and minor league infielder Rayne Doncon. In his young professional career, Miller has shown he absolutely has the ability to stick at shortstop. However, the jury is still out on whether he will be able to hit enough to be a serviceable option in the big leagues.

Miller’s glove will be the reason he is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, if a team believes he could serve as a late-inning defensive replacement and move around the diamond to provide a utility infielder type role. If a team that does not expect to need that roster spot for something else is willing to be patient to see if his hit tool can catch up to his glove, Miller could turn into a solid Rule-5 selection in the right opportunity. Regardless of whether he is selected, he will be an interesting prospect to follow to see if the Dodgers or another team can help him develop into a quality regular with the upside of winning a gold glove one day.

Jagger Haynes - LHP
Padres #10 prospect

A fifth-round pick in 2020, Haynes was a selection the Padres made, seeing upside in his 6’3”, 170 lb frame at just 17 years old. He underwent Tommy John surgery and did not make his professional debut until the 2023 season. He was limited in that season by other injuries and ailments, which meant 2024 was his first full year as a professional without any major disruptions. In that season, he threw 110 2/3 innings, where he recorded 114 strikeouts and 66 walks. With a year under his belt, he pitched the 2025 season at Double-A, where he put up similar numbers to the prior year, throwing 103 innings with 101 strikeouts and 62 walks. Those numbers led him to have a solid 4.11 ERA.

He was left unprotected in 2024 in the Rule-5 draft and was not selected, but with another healthy year under his belt, a team might be compelled to see if he can turn into a weapon out of the bullpen, starting him out in lower leverage roles and seeing how things go. He is intriguing in some ways, but the high walk rate may make teams shy away from selecting him come December. 

Victor Arias - OF
Blue Jays #9 prospect

Signed out of Venezuela as an international free agent in 2019 at the age of 16, Arias has steadily climbed the minor league ladder, finishing the 2025 season with Double-A New Hampshire. One of the better outfield defenders in the Blue Jays system, the big question Arias will face is whether his bat can hold up against upper-minor and major league pitching. At 5’9” and 150 lbs, all the words you would expect have been used to describe Arias. He spent most of the 2025 season at High-A. He did play 36 games at Double-A. Between High-A and Double-A, he hit .272/.353/.403 over 102 games played with seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 50 BB, and 102 K. He also stole 18 bases, so that he could be used as a weapon on the basepaths for a team excited about that as a possibility.

While at first glance, most would say he is probably a full year from being an impactful major leaguer, if a team deems it worthwhile to put him on the roster as the fourth or fifth outfielder, they could end up with a Rule-5 selection they are quite pleased with in a few years.