Red Sox select two minor-league players in 2017 Rule 5 Draft

The Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Andrew Ferguson and center fielder Luke Tendler in the minor-league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft.

The Rule 5 Draft was held Thursday morning to wrap up the annual Winter Meetings in Orlando but the results are unlikely to have any significant effect on the Boston Red Sox.

Teams without a full 40-man roster have the opportunity to draft players from other organizations who were not protected on their 40-man roster. Only players who signed at age 18 or younger with at least five years of professional experience, or four years of experience for those signed at age 19 or older, are eligible to be drafted.

The draft goes in reverse order of the previous season’s standings but teams are not obligated to make a selection. Those that do make a pick in the major league portion of the draft must pay $100,000 to the club the player was selected from. That player must spend the entire following season on the 25-man active roster or disabled list; otherwise, they must be offered back to their original team.

The Red Sox opened a spot on their 40-man roster when they released left-handed pitcher Henry Owens earlier this month but they did not make a selection in the major league portion of the draft. Only 15 teams did make a selection and none of the unprotected players from the Red Sox organization were taken.