The Rule 5 Draft continues to inch closer, and the Boston Red Sox have made a swarm of roster moves to protect three top prospects they want to retain. They designated a few players for assignment, traded more away, and still left multiple tantalizing young players unprotected.
Boston fans should brace themselves to lose a few prospects in December’s draft. Players who aren't close to MLB-readiness are unlikely to be taken because they require a precious 40-man roster spot to pick up, but some top prospects and more developed players could be taken during the Winter Meetings.
5 prospects the Red Sox could lose in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft
Yordanny Monegro (RHP)
The Red Sox are probably losing Yordanny Monegro in the draft, and that really hurts. The right-handed pitcher hasn’t pitched in Triple-A yet. He only has 33 2/3 innings of experience in Double-A. He suffered an injury that led to him getting Tommy John surgery in June. Monegro won’t pitch for most of the 2026 season (if any).
So is Monegro gone? Just look at the last Rule 5 draft. Angel Bastardo was in a similar situation — no Triple-A experience, barely 61 1/3 innings in Double-A, and Tommy John in June of 2024. The Toronto Blue Jays took him because they could stash him while he was injured and see if things would work out in the future.
Monegro is the better prospect. There’s no reason a team won’t take a chance on a guy with a 2.67 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings in Double-A (much better than the 5.36 ERA and 53 strikeouts Bastardo had in 45 1/3 innings in 2024).
Chance he’s gone: 90%
Jeremy Wu-Yelland (LHP)
Jeremy Wu-Yelland hasn’t pitched past Double-A yet, but that won’t stop teams from giving him a look. The relief pitcher throws a mid-to-high 90s fastball with intriguing secondary pitches from the left side.
There’s never going to be a shortage of want for lefty bullpen arms. Wu-Yelland had some injuries in the past, but he was healthy last season and put up a strong showing (3.18 ERA, .193 BAA, 1.00 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 34 innings).
JWY feels like the exact type of pitcher a team could stash at the back of their bullpen. His past as a starter might make them comfortable giving him multi-inning outings, too, which adds to his value.
Chance he’s gone: 70%
Tyler McDonough (UTIL)
I could’ve easily filled this list with all pitchers (that’s the way the Rule 5 tends to go), but I wanted to highlight at least one position player. The position player prospect most likely to be taken is Tyler McDonough.
McDonough is a switch-hitter who has spent time in all three outfield spots, third base, second base, and shortstop in his career. He appeared at all but third base in 2025.
McDonough slashed .254/.328/.369 with 12 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in Triple-A this season. He drove in 27 runs, scored 32 more, and stole six bases in 79 games.
McDonough is very much in the mold of Nick Sogard. He’s going to be able to do everything for a team. He will get on base, can sneak some power and swipe a few bags, and can play strong defense all around the diamond. It wouldn't be shocking to see a team take a flyer on him in the Rule 5 draft.
Chance he’s gone: 35%
Hayden Mullins (LHP)
Hayden Mullins should’ve started the year in Double-A, but he was in High-A due to the Red Sox having too many arms in the system (not a bad thing). The 25-year-old should’ve ended the year in Triple-A, but was in Double-A due to the Red Sox having too many arms in the system (still not a bad thing).
Mullins dominated for nearly the entire season. The left-handed pitcher finished with a 2.21 ERA, .177 BAA, and 1.11 WHIP in 22 games (21 starts) between High-A and Double-A. He struck out 123 batters (but walked 51) in 101 2/3 innings.
Maybe the command is what is giving the Red Sox reservations, because everything else was off-the-charts domination. Other teams might also balk at the control issues, especially with Mullins not making it to Triple-A yet (could be another reason the Red Sox held off late in the year when it came to promoting him).
I don’t think 29 other teams are going to pass on Mullins. He’ll get a shot somewhere and be stashed in the back of a bullpen with the hopes that his ability to miss bats gets even more dangerous in short spurts.
Chance he’s gone: 85%
Noah Song (RHP)
Here we go again (in my best CJ from San Andreas voice). Noah Song was selected in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. They spent 2023 jerking him around and having him sit on the injured list when most would agree he was ready to go. He pitched briefly in Triple-A before the Phillies released him back to Boston.
Song suffered an injury prior to the 2024 season, though, and missed the entire year. Heading into 2025, a pitcher who was drafted in 2019 had 49 2/3 innings of professional baseball under his belt.
Song posted a 4.58 ERA, .260 BAA, and 1.49 WHIP in 31 appearances between the FCL, Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A in 2025. He struck out 61 batters compared to 28 walks in 55 innings.
The numbers aren’t great, but they took a big hit from his allowing eight runs in 4 2/3 innings in Triple-A. Song still has incredibly intriguing stuff, and a team might want to chuck him in the back of their bullpen and hope it all comes together. Back when he was drafted, people viewed him as the next big arm. Don’t be shocked if some teams hope they can capture that magic again.
Chance he’s gone: 50%