DALLAS -- The Phillies took a flier on Mike Vasil, a once-promising Mets prospect who has struggled to find consistency in the upper minors, while the Twins gambled on the breakout potential of Phillies farmhand Eiberson Castellano in Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft.
Vasil, 24, was the Mets’ No. 21 prospect according to SNY’s Joe DeMayo but endured a rocky 2024 season with Triple-A Syracuse. Over 29 appearances (27 starts), the right-hander pitched to a 6.04 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP. The Mets originally selected Vasil in the eighth round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Virginia, but his performance has regressed as he’s advanced through the minor league system.
The Phillies’ selection of Vasil is likely more about organizational depth than long-term plans. Given his struggles, it’s unlikely Vasil remains with the club for the entirety of 2025, making him a potential trade chip in the coming weeks.
While the Phillies brought in Vasil, the organization lost a rising arm in Eiberson Castellano, whom the Minnesota Twins selected. Castellano, 24, was signed by the Phillies as an international free agent in 2018 and transitioned into a starting role for the first time in 2024.
That decision paid off for both the player and the organization. Castellano thrived with High-A Jersey Shore, where he posted a 4.12 ERA across 14 appearances. His performance earned him a promotion to Double-A Reading in July, and he responded with eight standout starts, compiling a 3.72 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Castellano’s success earned him recognition as the Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Under Rule 5 Draft guidelines, Minnesota must keep Castellano on their 26-man roster for the entirety of the 2025 season. If the Twins opt to remove him from the roster, Castellano would first need to clear waivers. If unclaimed, they would have to offer him back to the Phillies for $50,000.
