Spencer Jones, Andrew Painter Among Prospects Added to 40-Man Rosters

Aside from qualifying offer decisions, November 18 was also the day that MLB teams had to make final decisions on who to protect for the 2025 Rule 5 Draft. Many 2021 and 2022 MLB Draft picks were among those added to 40-man rosters, including former first-rounders Spencer Jones, Andrew Painter, and Gabriel Hughes.

A look at the notables

As expected, there were several AFL standouts added to 40-man rosters. Welinton Herrera (Rockies), Leo Balcazar (Reds), Nick Morabito (Mets), Esmerlyn Valdez (Pirates), and Jake Bennett (Nationals) were among the many protected from the Rule 5 Draft.

Valdez hit 35 combined home runs this season between the regular season, playoffs, and the Arizona Fall League. Morabito showed speed and athleticism, as he stole 16 bases and hit .362 in the AFL. The Mets outfielder’s been a very good contact hitter in his MiLB career. Bennett, meanwhile, rode his fastball, strong changeup, and breaking balls to have the most whiffs in Arizona.

Then, there were some of the “big” prospects protected.

The Yankees added Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Spencer Jones, as well as injured prospect Chase Hampton. Rodriguez-Cruz, acquired last winter from the Red Sox for Carlos Narvaez, struck out 176 over 150 and knocked on the MLB door. As for Jones, he stole 29 bases and hit 35 combined home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.

Jones is easily one of the most complicated prospects in baseball. A hulking prospect with plus power and good speed, Jones has major swing-and-miss troubles. In Triple-A this season, he whiffed 41.5% of the time. Among pitches in the zone, he whiffed 32.8%.

Ricky Tiedemann, the 23-year-old who missed all of 2025, was added to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. Tiedemann has been an electric pitching prospect when healthy — and that hasn’t been a given. The left-hander struck out 226 batters in the only 140 innings he’s thrown since going pro in 2021.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, added prized pitching prospect Andrew Painter. A 2021 first-round pick, Painter struck out 111 batters over 106.2 IP but walked 46 and gave up 18 home runs (1.5 HR/9) in Lehigh Valley (AAA).

Painter’s velocity averaged out at 96-97 MPH this season. He hit 100 MPH a couple of times in April and June — which is why his average velo was that high — but wasn’t as potent as the year wore on.

It was Painter’s first season on a mound since 2022.

There were also a handful of recently traded prospects protected by their new organizations.

Kohl Drake, one of the pitchers acquired in the Merrill Kelly deal by the Diamondbacks, was added to Arizona’s 40-man roster. Christian Franklin, the Nationals outfield prospect who had a strong year in the Minors, was acquired for Michael Soroka.

Franklin finished in the top 20 of the International League in hits, along with Tanner Murray (Rays) and Hao-Yu Lee (Tigers). Both Lee and Murray were protected by their respective organizations.

Not to mention, the Tigers protected catcher Thayron Liranzo. Liranzo was acquired in the summer of 2024 in the Jack Flaherty move.

List of protected players

Here’s the full list of players added to their teams’ 40-man rosters:

Athletics

OF Junior Perez
P Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang

Diamondbacks

P Mitch Bratt
P Kohl Drake
INF Jose Fernandez
P Dylan Ray

Braves

None

Orioles

P Cameron Foster
OF Reed Trimble

Red Sox

Cubs

White Sox

P Duncan Davitt
P Tanner McDougal

Reds

INF Edwin Arroyo
INF Leo Balcazar
OF Hector Rodriguez

Guardians

Rockies

P Welinton Herrera
P Gabriel Hughes
OF Sterlin Thompson

Tigers

OF Trei Cruz
INF Hao-Yu Lee
C Thayron Liranzo
P Jake Miller
C Eduardo Valencia

Astros

P Miguel Ullola

Royals

P Steven Zobac
P Ben Kudrna

Angels

P Walbert Urena

Dodgers

P Ronan Kopp

Marlins

Brewers

None

Twins

Mets

OF Nick Morabito

Yankees

P Chase Hampton
OF Spencer Jones
P Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz

Phillies

P Alex McFarlane
P Andrew Painter
OF Gabriel Rincones Jr.

Pirates

INF Jack Brannigan
P Brandan Bidois
P Wilber Dotel
P Antwone Kelly
P Tyler Samaniego
OF Esmerlyn Valdez

Padres

P Garrett Hawkins

Giants

None

Mariners

P Alex Hoppe (Acquired from Red Sox for C Luke Heyman)

Cardinals

Rays

INF Jadher Areinamo
P Alex Cook
C Dominic Keegan
P Jacob Kisting (Acquired from Twins for RP Eric Orze)
INF Tanner Murray

Rangers

Blue Jays

P Ricky Tiedemann

Nationals

P Jake Bennett
P Riley Cornelio
OF Christian Franklin

Given all the newly protected players, there were multiple moves made to clear roster space.

Colin Holderman (Pirates), Christopher Morel (Tigers), Jason Foley (Tigers), JJ Bleday (Athletics), Tayler Saucedo (Mariners), and Ryan Rolison (Rockies) were among the players DFA’d.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, made several trades. Aside from one earlier in the day with the Rays, Boston traded relievers Chris Murphy (White Sox) and Brennan Bernardino (Rockies).

Check out more of our MLB and Minor League coverage.