Everything the NY Mets lost and gained in yesterday's Rule 5 Draft

The Rule 5 Draft rarely wins awards for excitement, but it has a quiet way of sneaking useful players into big league stories. The New York Mets have felt that ripple before. Mark Canha spent time in the Rule 5 system, as did Luis Torrens, and long before their Queens runs, both Johan Santana and RA Dickey took Rule 5 detours of their own. They didn’t join the Mets through the draft itself, yet their paths show how this understated process can uncover real value. The 2025 edition kept things modest, though there was still enough activity to warrant a quick tour.

The Major League phase passed without any Mets activity, but the Minor League phase brought movement. Players are eligible for this phase once they’ve spent enough seasons in pro ball and aren’t protected on the 40-man roster or the Triple-A reserve list (38 players), which opened the door for several changes.

The Mets lost three players and added three others in the Rule 5 shuffle

Taken from the Mets

Righty TJ Shook was selected by the Rockies after a strong season between Binghamton and Syracuse, posting a 3.21 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 56 innings. The Astros picked up righty Trey McLoughlin, who turned in a 3.91 ERA across St. Lucie and Binghamton while striking out 26 in 23 innings. Washington added righty Dylan Tebrake, whose injury return limited him to four innings in St. Lucie but still carried enough intrigue to draw interest. Three arms leaving the system in one draft is never ideal, yet each offered a profile that made them reasonable targets.

Added Justin Armbruester

The Mets selected righty Justin Armbruester from the Orioles, a 27-year-old whose year was defined by a right lat injury that limited him to just three appearances in 2025. His 2024 season in Triple A was rough, finishing with a 7.54 ERA in 29 outings (26 starts), allowing 123 hits and 69 walks in 119.1 innings while opponents hit .261. Even so, Armbruester brings a four-pitch mix built around a low-90s fastball, cutter, sweeper, and curve. The appeal comes from strikeouts. He topped 100 in three straight seasons from 2022 to 2024, including 131 punchouts in 119.1 innings in 2024.

Added Aaron Rozek

Lefty Aaron Rozek joined the Mets after being selected from the Twins organization, bringing a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s four-seamer, cutter, sinker, and slider. The 30-year-old split his 2025 season between Double A and Triple A, making 32 appearances with 11 starts and pitching to a 4.46 ERA. Rozek allowed 122 hits and 36 walks in 109 innings while striking out 102 batters, and opponents hit .288 against him. One notable positive from his year was inducing 16 double plays, a number that stands out in an otherwise modest stat line.

Added Matt Turner

Lefty Matt Turner joined the Mets after signing with the Yankees as a minor league free agent earlier in the offseason. The 26 year old spent the 2025 season in the Rockies system, working across Double A and Triple A while making 41 appearances, including 4 starts. Turner finished with a 5.79 ERA, allowing 62 hits and 31 walks in 56 innings while striking out 59, and opponents hit .278 against him. The numbers that stand out are his 9.48 strikeouts per nine and a .48 home run rate, two traits that helped draw interest despite the overall line.