Dec 16, 2003 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – For a team that has focused for several years on stockpiling prospects, the Pittsburgh Pirates certainly go through them quickly in the annual Rule 5 draft. Of the first six players drafted Monday at baseball’s winter meetings, five were Pirates farmhands – a wholesale raid of a farm system that has turned out only a handful of top major league players in the last 20 years.

Catcher-first baseman Chris Shelton, Pittsburgh’s minor league player of the year, went first overall to Detroit. San Diego followed by taking outfielder Rich Thompson, who was subsequently traded to Kansas City.

Taken 4-5-6 in the draft were left-hander Frank Brooks by the Mets, right-hander Jeff Bennett by Milwaukee and infielder Jose Bautista by Baltimore. Brooks, acquired by the Pirates from the Phillies in the Mike Williams trade last season, was later dealt to Oakland.

The Pirates didn’t protect the players even though they had three openings on their 40-man roster. General manager Dave Littlefield is keeping the spots open for the budget-priced free agents the Pirates anticipate signing.

That so many were drafted so early from one organization reflects Littlefield’s philosophy – one not shared by all in the Pirates’ front office – that players are better left exposed to the draft than to waivers.

A player taken off the 40-man roster to make room for another must go through waivers before he can be assigned to a minor league team. However, Rule 5 picks must stay with their new teams for the entire season or be offered back to their former teams for $25,000. Most teams don’t want to commit a roster spot to a player likely to play little, so many Rule 5 picks wind up back with the former clubs.

“The end game isn’t being selected,” Littlefield said. “Whether they can stay in the big leagues, that’s the end game.”

However, two teams pulled an end-around last season by keeping Rule 5 players drafted from Pittsburgh. D.J. Carrasco proved to be a reliable middle reliever for Kansas City and Chris Spurling pitched out of the Tigers’ bullpen.

Littlefield has since said he regretted leaving Carrasco exposed, though that didn’t prevent him from not protecting those drafted Monday.

Brooks was 5-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 52 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A last season, going 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA at Triple-A Nashville. Shelton hit .336 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs at Class A Hickory and Double-A Altoona.

Thompson, acquired from the Blue Jays for pitcher John Wasdin, hit .346 in the Arizona Fall League. Bennett was 5-7 with a 3.80 ERA at Altoona and Nashville. Bautista, who hasn’t played above Class A, hit .241 with four homers and 20 RBIS at Class A Lynchburg.

The Pirates also lost catcher Ronny Paulino in last year’s draft, but he was later returned to their farm system by Kansas City.