Cardinals Get OF Erik Komatsu in Rule 5 Draft

While fans were clamoring about Albert Pujols’ departure, the St. Louis Cardinals front office had to get down to business partaking in MLB’s Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. In the Major League Phase, the Cardinals selected outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Washington Nationals organization. Komatsu was an eighth-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 after playing collegiate ball with Cal State-Fullerton.

The 24 year old Komatsu was Milwaukee’s minor league player of the year in 2010 and was traded for Jerry Hairston Jr. in 2011. Komatsu’s minor league stats are below.

Komatsu seems to be an good hitter with gap power, above average speed and he has shown the ability to get on base at a good clip (.389 OBP so far in minors). He has progressed nicely since being drafted, basically moving up a level each season.

In the Minor League Portion of the draft the Cardinals selected lefty Barrett Browning from the Los Angeles Angels (take that Jerry DiPoto!) and righty Shooter Hunt from the Minnesota Twins. The Cardinals lost righty Javier Avendano to the Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Charlie Cutler to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

If chosen in the Rule 5 draft, a player must be kept on the selecting team’s 25-man roster for the entire season after the draft. He may not be optioned or designated to the minors. The selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. If a Rule 5 draftee clears waivers by not signing with a new MLB team, he must be offered back to the original team, effectively canceling the Rule 5 draft choice. Once a Rule 5 draftee spends an entire season on his new team’s 25-man roster, his status reverts to normal and he may be optioned or designated for assignment.

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