In Thursday’s Rule 5 draft that concluded the Winter Meetings, the Braves made no selections and lost two minor league pitchers, neither of them among the team’s big prospects.

Michael Lee went to the Diamondbacks off the Double-A Mississippi roster in the Triple-A phase of the draft, and left-hander Blaine Sims went to the Astros off the high-A Lynchburg roster in the Double-A phase.

Sims, 24, recently learned to throw a knuckleball in hopes of advancing his career, but he hasn’t pitched above A-ball and has a 5.12 ERA over four seasons.

Lee, a former independent league pitcher, had a 3.77 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) last season, all but one in Double-A. He had 80 strikeouts with 21 walks and 10 homers allowed in 133-2/3 innings.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Honorary VIP guests Roger Cador (from left), Andre Dawson, Ken Griffey Sr. and Dusty Baker chat before the start of HBCU Swingman Classic at Truist Park on Tuesday, July 11, 2025, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC