Royals Select Pitcher Cesar Cabral in The Rule 5 Draft, Trade Him To Yankees

The Kansas City Royals today selected left-handed pitcher Cesar Cabral from the Pawtucket (AAA) roster of the Boston Red Sox with the fifth pick in the Major League Baseball Rule 5 Draft.  The Royals then traded Cabral to the New York Yankees for cash considerations, keeping the club’s Major League 40-man roster at 39.  In addition, the Royals selected left-handed pitcher Thomas Melgarejo from the Chattanooga (AA) roster in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

The 24-year-old Melgarejo (mel-guh-RAY-ho) from Minatitlan, Veracruz, Mexico, pitched for Saltillo (AAA) in the Mexican Summer League last season, compiling a 4-2 record with a 3.55 ERA in 49 relief appearances.  He has posted a 1-0 record with a 2.58 ERA (10.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 12 SO) in 18 relief appearances for Aquilas de Mexicali in the Mexican Winter Leagues.  The 6-foot-1, 216-pounder is 19-21 with a 4.54 ERA in 228 career minor league outings (32 starts), including his time in Mexico (2005, 2010-11).

The Royals did not lose any players from today’s Major League or minor league phases of the Rule 5 Draft.

For additional information, members of the media may contact the Royals Media Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.