Jimenez, Zerpa taken in Major League Phase of Rule 5 Draft

A pair of Sox prospects have been selected in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Jorge Jimenez was selected by the Houston Astros and Armando Zerpa was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays. Jimenez will reportedly head from Houston to the Florida Marlins as the player to be named later in a trade for reliever Matt Lindstrom.

Jimenez (pictured), originally selected in the fifteenth round of the 2006 draft, spent the entire 2009 season with the Portland Sea Dogs, hitting .289 with 13 home runs and 87 RBI. A SoxProspects.com All-Star at third base in each of the past three seasons, Jimenez was also named a California League All-Star in 2008 while with Lancaster and an Eastern League All-Star in 2009. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter was Portland's Most Valuable Player in 2009 as well, and has a career minor league line of .298/.377/.423 in 367 games played, all in the Red Sox organization.

Zerpa, signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2004, split the 2009 season between Greenville and Salem, putting up a 1.20 ERA in 22 games with Greenville while striking out more than a batter per inning. His efforts for the Drive in 2009 earned him a South Atlantic League All-Star nod. With Salem, Zerpa put up a 4.95 ERA in 16 games. The 22-year-old southpaw holds a 3.12 career ERA in 184.1 innings pitched over the last five seasons.

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