Former VMI pitcher Reed Garrett was selected Thursday in the Major League Baseball Rule 5 draft by the Detroit Tigers organization. Garrett had been a part of the Texas Rangers minor-league system the last five seasons.
Garrett was the fifth pick in the first round of the major-league portion of the Rule 5 draft. This means that he will have to stay on the Tigers’ 25-man major league roster for the entire season, or be offered back to the Rangers for $50,000.
Garrett, a 16th-round draft pick of Texas in 2014, played at two levels for the Rangers farm system this year. The right-hander served as the teams’ closer at both of those stops. Garrett had a 1.69 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings at AA Frisco, with a 3-1 record and 16 saves. He finished the season at AAA Round Rock, totaling 19 innings, a 2.84 ERA and five saves.
Held each December, the Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man roster players from other clubs. Clubs draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season.
Garrett had a 3.29 ERA in three seasons with VMI in 23 starts and 56 appearances. He really came on as a junior, earning second-team Big South honors with a 2.23 ERA, tossing a no-hitter against Lafayette University with one walk and 13 strikeouts.
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Chris Graham
