SF Giants lose five prospects in the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 draft

The SF Giants did not make any selections in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, but their prospects were popular targets. Ryan Murphy headlined the group of five prospects to be selected away through that channel.

SF Giants lose five prospects in the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 draft

Interestingly, the Giants did not a pick in either phase of the Rule 5 draft. They did swing a trade with the Minnesota Twins to acquire young backstop Daniel Susac.

Pitchers Spencer Miles and Ryan Watson were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and A’s, respectively, in the major league phase. Watson was then immediately traded to the Boston Red Sox.

The rules in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft are different. Teams can protect eligible players by adding them to their Triple-A roster. The list of players who are not protected are not made public. Once a player is drafted through this channel, the new team retains their rights. 

Ryan Murphy was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was originally a fifth-round pick by San Francisco in the 2020 draft out of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. 

Murphy had an impressive first season, pitching to a 2.52 ERA in 21 starts split across two levels. He had been slowed by injuries in recent seasons, limiting him to just 19.1 frames in 2025.

The right-handed pitcher received an invite to the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Junior Flores (Pittsburg Pirates), Carter Howell (Atlanta Braves), Jan Caraballo (Detroit Tigers), and Evan Gates (Philadelphia Phillies) were also selected away from the Giants.

Howell was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and spent the past two seasons in Double-A. In 2025, he recorded a .639 OPS with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 439 plate appearances for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Gates was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He pitched to a 3.23 ERA in 41 outings for Richmond this past season. 

Junior Flores and Jan Caraballo joined the Giants via international free agency in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Flores had a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances across two levels in 2025, and Caraballo made four appearances for the Arizona Complex League Giants.