Cleveland Guardians select two pitchers, lose another in 2021 minor league Rule 5 draft

There was some actual baseball action happening this week, as the Cleveland Guardians selected two pitchers while losing another in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft.

The Cleveland Guardians got in on the action of the minor-league Rule 5 draft Wednesday, selecting pitchers Erik Sabrowski and Brett Daniels while losing right-hander Dakody Clemmer to the Washington Nationals.

In the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft, which was still allowed to continue amidst the lockout, teams were able to select from a pool of players not protected on a 38-man Triple-A roster; once selected, a player can be sent to any minor-league level and $24,500 is paid to the original team.

Sabrowski, originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the 14th round of the 2018 draft, lost out on the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to Tommy John surgery before COVID-19 stopped the 2020 season.

The 24-year-old left-hander finally made his debut with the High-A Fort Wayne Tin Caps this season, posting a 1.86 ERA and striking out 41 in 29 innings before suffering another elbow injury that would require a second Tommy John surgery. Sabrowski will likely miss the entire 2022 season because of it, but Guardians fans should finally expect to see him in the organization sometime during the 2023 season.

Daniels was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the 17th round of the 2018 draft, most recently pitching for Double-A Corpus Christi this past season, where he posted a 6.58 ERA with 112 strikeouts and 48 walks in 90 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander figures to find his place in the Guardians organization as a relief pitcher moving forward.

The Guardians did lose right-handed pitcher Dakody Clemmer to the Washington Nationals. The 25-year-old Clemmer was originally selected by Cleveland in the 19th round of the 2016 draft and pitched this past season at Double-A Akron, posting a 3.40 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 33 walks in 50 1/3 innings.