Ryan Noda was not the only selection that the Oakland A’s made in the Rule V Draft on Wednesday. They also landed Joelvis Del Rosario during the minor league portion of the draft.
It is understandable that Noda would get the majority of the attention. He has been someone the A’s have coveted for the past couple of years, attempting to get him from the Dodgers. Since he was selected in the major league portion of the draft, he will have a chance to make an impact on the A’s next season.
What do the Oakland A’s have in Joelvis Del Rosario?
Del Rosario will not have that same opportunity in all likelihood. He has been assigned to Las Vegas, beginning his journey in the A’s organization at Triple-A. It will be a significant jump in competition as he spent the 2022 season in A-ball in the Pirates system, pitching at Bradenton in the Florida State League.
He did put together a solid season based on the numbers. Del Rosario posted a 3.68 ERA and a 1.290 WHiP in his 93 innings, striking out 76 batters with 25 walks. He was an extreme ground ball pitcher as well, with an impressive 50.2% ground ball rate while generating 1.61 grounders for every fly ball last season.
Del Rosario has an intriguing arsenal as well. He features a mid 90s fastball, a sinker that sits in the low 90s, a changeup, and a slider. His excellent command of his arsenal allows his pitches to play up and could allow Del Rosario to find success despite a significant jump in competition. If he can show signs of success in a lower leverage role in Triple-A, it is possible that he could be a part of the A’s future.
Joelvis Del Rosario is not likely to impact the Oakland A’s at the major league level in 2023. However, he is an intriguing prospect in his own right.