Winter Meetings: 2013 Rule 5 Draft

There were changes to the St. Louis Cardinals organization with the 2013 Rule 5 Draft at this week’s Winter Meetings.
March 20, 2012; Mesa, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Greg Miclat (65) dives and knocks down the ball and makes the play for the out against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at HoHoKam Park. Image Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
No changes were made to the organization during the Major League phase.

At the Triple-A phase, the Minnesota Twins picked up Springfield right-handed pitcher Kevin Thomas while the San Diego Padres selected shortstop Jake Lemmerman. Lemmerman had been acquired by the Cardinals last offseason when they traded Skip Schumaker to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Springfield left-handed pitcher Hector Hernandez.

In his only season with the Cardinals organization, Lemmerman hit .231/.353/.367 in 98 games for Springfield.

The Cardinals picked up Round Rock (Texas Rangers) shortstop Gregory Miclat and Erie (Detroit Tigers third baseman Jesus Ustariz.

Miclat was a fifth round draft pick in 2008 by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of Virginia. In 6 minor league seasons, Miclat has a career line of .259/.342/.321 while hitting .249/.335/.313in 116 games at the AAA level. Unless Greg Garcia finds his way to the Cardinals bench at the start of the season, Miclat might be more of a backup player at the AAA level than everyday starter.

Ustariz is only 20 years old and played this season with the Gulf Coast League Tigers and Connecticut Tigers of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League. The Venezuelan has hit .292/.382/.420 over four seasons. In addition to third, he can play first base as well.

According to Cardinals Farm, the two can begin the 2014 season at any level but “just have to be placed on the AAA reserve list.”