Braves Add 5 Players to 40-Man Roster
By Scott Rogust
Major League Baseball's Rule 5 Draft is fast approaching, and the Atlanta Braves got a head start in protecting some of their prized prospects.
On Tuesday, the Braves selected the contracts of Cristian Pache, William Contreras, Jasseel De La Cruz, Tucker Davidson, and Phil Pfeifer to their 40-man roster. The deadline for clubs to protect prospects is Wednesday night.
Braves Add Five Players To 40-Man Roster https://t.co/3n9tHsegWk pic.twitter.com/pqdgRJTdLx
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 19, 2019
Selecting Pache was a no-brainer for the Braves, considering he's one of the elite prospects in the game today. Known for his defensive abilities, Pache is set to start the 2020 season in Triple-A Gwinnett, with the expectation of him making his pro debut at some point during the year.
Contreras, the younger brother of Chicago Cubs catcher Willson, slashed .255/.315/.354 between Class-A and Double-A.
.@Braves select contracts of OF Cristian Pache, catcher William Contreras, LHPs Tucker Davidson, Phil Pfeifer, RHP Jasseel De La Cruz.
— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) November 20, 2019
Right-handed pitcher De La Cruz reached Double-A this past season, where he posted a 7-9 record, 3.25 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. Meanwhile, Davidson was impressive, as he recorded a strong 2.15 ERA through 25 games. Pfiefer, on the other hand, struck out a staggering 159 batters between Class-A and Triple-A.
With the addition of these five players, the Atlanta Braves' roster sits at 38. It's unknown if they'll protect any other prospects leading up to the deadline.