OXON HILL, MD - The Houston Astros made two selections in the Triple A phase of the Rule 5 Draft today, selecting catcher Eduardo De Oleo from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round and right-handed pitcher Jared Mortenson from the Tampa Bay Rays in the second.
The Astros entered today with a full 40-man roster, making them ineligible to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. The Astros did lose one player in the Major League Rule 5 Draft, as Texas selected right-handed pitcher Mike Hauschild in the first round. In the minor league phase, the Astros did not lose a player.
De Oleo, 23, split his 2016 campaign across three levels in the Diamondbacks organization, combining to hit .261 (18x69) with two home runs and 15 RBI in 21 games. A native of the Dominican Republic, De Oleo has played in parts of six minor league seasons since signing with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2010.
Mortensen, 28, spent the 2016 season at Double A Montgomery in Tampa Bay's organization, posting a 7-7 record and a 5.47 ERA (42ER/72.1IP) in 34 games, including four starts. A knuckleball pitcher, Mortensen compiled 86 strikeouts in his 72.1 innings pitched this season. Mortensen is a native of British Columbia, Canada, and played his collegiate career at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.