ORLANDO – More than a decade has passed since the Twins had a Rule 5 draft pick last a full season on their roster. And on Wednesday, they immediately traded the one they picked.
The Twins took Daniel Susac from the Athletics with the fourth overall choice in the annual Rule 5 draft, and then quickly flipped him to the San Francisco Giants in a trade for 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher Miguel Caraballo, a switch hitter who initially signed with the San Francisco Giants for $172,500.
Caraballo played in the Dominican Summer League this year, hitting .264 with five homers and 22 RBI in 41 games. He posted a .432 on-base percentage and stole eight bases.
There are difficult roster restrictions for Rule 5 players. They must remain on the active 26-man roster all year, otherwise they must be put on waivers and returned to their original team.
Susac, the No. 19 pick in the 2022 MLB amateur draft out of the University of Arizona, hit .275 with 18 homers and 68 RBI in a hitter-friendly Class AAA league last season.
The Twins put outfielder Carson McCusker on unconditional release waivers, opening a spot on their 40-man roster that allowed them to pick in the Rule 5 draft and set up the trade. McCusker, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound player, is expected to pursue an opportunity to play in Asia next year.
McCusker, who went from playing in an independent league to the majors, appeared in 16 games with the Twins last season. He had five singles in 29 at-bats with 16 strikeouts. The 27-year-old was better in the minors, drawing interest from Japanese teams. He hit .246 with 22 homers and 70 RBI in 106 games at Class AAA.
The Twins took pitcher Eiberson Castellano with their Rule 5 pick in last year’s draft. Castellano had trouble throwing strikes during spring training and didn’t make the Opening Day roster. He was returned to the Philadelphia Phillies in March, and he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies last week.
