KANSAS CITY, MO (December 13, 2018) - The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has selected right-handed pitcher Sam McWilliams with the second overall pick in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Additionally, the club acquired right-handed pitcher Chris Ellis from the Texas Rangers, who selected him with the seventh overall pick, in exchange for cash considerations.
McWilliams, 23, spent time at three different minor league affiliates in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization last season, combining on a 7-9 record with a 4.38 ERA (67 ER in 137.2 IP) and 133 strikeouts. He spent the majority of the year with Montgomery (AA), making 15 starts and 19 appearances, while he was a mid-season and postseason All-Star in the Midwest League (A) with Kane County in 2017. He was originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn.
Ellis, 26, pitched at Springfield (AA) and Memphis (AAA) in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization in 2018, going 10-4 with a 3.93 ERA (58 ER in 132.2 IP) in 31 appearances and 21 starts between the two stops. His 10 victories tied for second-most in the Cardinals' organization, while he was named a Texas League All-Star, after going 4-0 with a pair of saves and a 4.19 ERA (25 ER in 53.2 IP) in his 15 appearances (7 starts) at Springfield. He was originally selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Mississippi.
Both players will need to stay at the Major League level during the 2019 season, or will have to be offered back to their respective clubs. Following today's draft, the Royals' Major League reserve list is at 40 players.
The Royals also selected catcher Chris Rabago from the New York Yankees' organization (second overall) during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Kansas City then traded him to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations.