2016 Rule 5 Draft pick scouting reports

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Miguel Diaz was one of the Brewers’ better prospects, but they opted not to protect him on their 40-man roster and hoped that his lack of experience would allow him to sneak through the Rule 5 Draft.

The Padres, however, saw Diaz as a live-armed right-hander who would be worth giving a big league roster spot. They engineered a deal in which the Twins took Diaz with the No. 1 overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday, then sent him to San Diego for a player to be named later or cash.

Signed for $85,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, the 22-year-old Diaz has a 93-96 mph fastball with late life and the chance to offer a solid three-pitch mix with a developing slider and changeup. He missed most of 2015 with an avulsion fracture in his pitching elbow, then came back to go 1-8, 3.71 ERA with a 91/29 K/BB ratio in 94 2/3 innings at Class A Wisconsin this season.

• Complete Rule 5 Draft results

Though Diaz projects as a starter, he likely will work in relief if he sticks with the Padres in 2017. He has thrown just 236 innings in five seasons as a pro and has not pitched above Class A.

To keep Diaz, San Diego must keep him on its active big league roster during the entire 2016 season. Players selected in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft can’t be sent to the Minor Leagues without first clearing waivers and then getting offered back to their original organization for half of their $100,000 Draft price. Injured Rule 5 players may be placed on the disabled list, but they face the same restrictions governing Minor League assignments in subsequent years until they total 90 days on the active roster.

Here are scouting reports on the other 17 players taken in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft:

Luis Torrens, C, Padres No. 23 prospect (from Yankees via Reds) Signed for $1.3 million out of Venezuela in 2012, Torrens is an athletic defender who also shows some promise at the plate. He sat out 2015 following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, then returned and hit .230/.348/.317 in 40 games at Class A Charleston this summer.

Allen Cordoba, SS, Padres No. 21 prospect (from Cardinals) Cordoba has yet to play above Rookie ball, but he did win the Gulf Coast League MVP award in 2015 and the Appalachian League batting title in 2016 while hitting .362/.427/.495. A gifted hitter who controls the strike zone and has solid speed and defensive skills at a premium position, he’s the most talented player taken in this year’s Rule 5 Draft — …

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