In a surprising turn of events at the MLB Rule 5 draft, New York Yankees' farmhands took center stage, accounting for a significant portion of the picks. The Yankees saw three of their prospects selected, including the first two picks overall.

The Oakland Athletics made a bold move by selecting right-hander Mitch Spence as the top pick of the draft. Shortly after, the Kansas City Royals followed suit, choosing right-hander Matt Sauer. Finally, the Texas Rangers rounded out the draft by selecting right-hander Coleman Crow.

Among the three selections, Sauer stands out with an impressive prospect pedigree. He was a second-round pick in the 2017 draft from a California high school and earned a remarkable $2.5 million bonus, equivalent to a late first-round pick. It is clear that the Royals see enormous potential in Sauer.

The Rule 5 draft, held during the winter meetings, provides an opportunity for clubs to bolster their big league roster by adding players who are not on another team's 40-man roster. The selection price for each player is set at $100,000. If a player remains on the big league roster for the entire season, the selecting team gains their full rights. However, if the player is optioned during the season, they are offered back to their original team for half of the selection price.

Over the past eight Rule 5 drafts, the Yankees have been significantly impacted, surpassing any other MLB club. Out of the 120 picks made, Yankees farmhands have accounted for an astonishing 20 selections, making up 17% of the total. This disproportionately high number of picks highlights the Yankees' ability to develop and attract talent.

Notably, some players selected from the Yankees in previous Rule 5 drafts have excelled in the big leagues. Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock, who was selected in a previous draft, has posted an impressive 3.9 WAR and recently signed an $18.75 million extension in 2022. Similarly, Trevor Stephan, a right-hander for the Cleveland Guardians, has recorded 2.1 WAR and secured a $10 million extension in 2023.

However, there have been instances where selected players have been returned to the Yankees. Left-hander Nestor Cortes was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 and made their Opening Day roster but was later returned to the Yankees. Since his return, Cortes has proven to be a valuable asset, accumulating a noteworthy 5.3 WAR.

Last year's Rule 5 draft saw the top six picks successfully spend the entire season on their respective big league rosters, resulting in the transfer of their full rights to their new clubs. Conversely, the subsequent seven picks were ultimately returned to their original teams.

While the Yankees underwent significant losses in this year's Rule 5 draft, one non-Yankees pick caught attention. The Cleveland Guardians made an intriguing selection by choosing third baseman Deyvison De Los Santos from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite being just 20 years old, De Los Santos has already displayed immense power and has participated in 123 games at the Double-A level.

The dominance of the New York Yankees' farmhands in the MLB Rule 5 draft is undeniable. With three prospects chosen, including the first two overall picks, the Yankees once again demonstrate their ability to develop and attract top talent. Only time will tell if these selections will prove successful for their new clubs or if they'll be returned to the Yankees.