The Atlanta Braves have plenty of important decisions to make this offseason. Earlier in the offseason, they had to decide if they wanted to protect any of their prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. Atlanta didn't add any of their Rule 5 players to the 40-man roster to protect them.
The Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man roster players from other teams. Players signed at 18 or younger need to be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons, and players who signed at 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.
If a team makes a selection in the draft, they are required to pay $100,000 to the team the player was selected from. That player must be placed on the 26-man roster to remain with the organization that selected them. If they no longer want to hold on to said player, they have to place them on outright waivers. If they clear waivers, they are required to offer the player back to their former club for $50,000 and can only be outrighted to the minor leagues if the original team declines to reacquire them.
The 2025 Rule 5 Draft takes place on December 10th, and teams will hope they can find a diamond in the rough. There is one Braves prospect who is likely to be taken in the draft (or things are at least trending in that direction).
Blake Burkhalter has been repeatedly identified now as a prospect that the Braves could easily lose in the Rule 5 Draft
Blake Burkhalter is currently listed as Atlanta's 11th-best prospect. He has been mentioned as a potential Rule 5 pick by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. The former Auburn pitcher was drafted by the Braves in the 2nd round of the 2022 Draft.
Burkhalter wasn't the only Rule 5 eligible player not added to the 40-man roster by the deadline. However, he is one of the most notable. The right-hander pitched fairly well as a starter at Double-A last season with a 3.13 ERA over 72 innings, including 29 walks and 65 strikeouts.
He was moved to Triple-A towards the end of the year and pitched out of the bullpen. Burkhalter struggled mightily with a 3.77 ERA over 31 innings with 16 walks and 23 strikeouts. He just couldn't miss a lot of bats and walked a lot of runners.
Burkhalter's fastball sits in the low to mid-90s and has decent ride on it with some cut. The righty pairs well with a cutter, curveball, and changeup. There are definitely things to like about Burkhalter, and other teams are sure to take notice.
While he isn't the flashiest pitcher, his profile is one that would be appealing to any number of pitching-needy clubs. Right now, it feels like the Braves have confidence he won't be taken or that they don't see him as part of the future. The worst that can happen is that Burkhalter has a similar surge to Shane Smith with the White Sox last season.
Burkhalter could figure things out and become a great arm for someone else which would leave the Braves wondering what could have been. Best case, he doesn't do anything notable, and he returns to Atlanta at some point during the season (or he doesn't get picked at all).