Today marks the deadline for MLB teams to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 Draft by adding them to their 40-man rosters. According to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, the Oakland Athletics plan to protect Gunnar Hoglund, a former Toronto Blue Jays prospect acquired in the Matt Chapman trade.

The Rule 5 Draft rules state that players signed at age 18 or younger must be added to their team’s 40-man roster within five seasons, while those signed at 19 or older must be protected within four seasons. Hoglund, drafted by the Blue Jays in 2021 out of college, fits this category and is eligible for Rule 5 protection for the first time.

At 24 years old, the former first-round pick had a solid 2024 campaign, going 9-7 with a 3.44 ERA, primarily with Double-A Midland before earning an August promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. While he struggled in Vegas—posting a 0-3 record with a 5.88 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP—his overall performance, including a 1.07 WHIP and a strong ability to throw strikes, keeps him ranked as the Athletics’ No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Hoglund’s struggles in Triple-A were partially attributed to an increase in his walk rate (from 6.5% to 9%), a higher home run rate (1.73 per nine innings), and some bad luck with balls in play. Despite these setbacks, the Athletics are optimistic about his long-term potential as a quality big-league pitcher.

While Hoglund may not immediately crack Oakland’s major league roster, he is expected to be in the mix for a call-up during the 2025 season. The A’s current rotation, featuring JP Sears, Joey Estes, Osvaldo Bido, Mitch Spence, and J.T. Ginn, has promise but lacks proven stability, which could open opportunities for Hoglund as the team adjusts throughout the season.