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For the most part, the Rule 5 draft -- held each year at the end of the Winter Meetings -- doesn't yield players who are ready to make a Fantasy impact. After all, players are available in the draft because their organizations didn't see fit to find room for them on their 40-man rosters.

Still, players like Josh Hamilton, Dan Uggla and Everth Cabrera had Fantasy-relevant years in the seasons following their Rule 5 selections. In order for a team to retain players they acquire through the Rule 5 draft, they have to keep them on their 25-man roster for the entire season. Most players who do stick with the team that drafted them do so in a bench or relief role, but if a player is truly ready for a bigger role and the team has an unexpected need, the possibility exists for a more prominent role.

The following five players have the best chance to find themselves in the eye of this particular perfect storm. Four of the five have played extensively at Double-A or higher, so it's conceivable they could make the leap, and all could have an opportunity to make an impact at some point this season.

Odubel Herrera, 2B, Phillies: Herrera has already turned some heads, as he stole three bases in his second Grapefruit League game. In the Rangers' farm system, he did not put up eye-popping stolen base totals, topping 30 steals only once, and that was in Class A ball back in 2011. He can play the middle infield positions, but his best opportunity could be to start in left field. If nothing else, Herrera's versatility could gain him steady at-bats in a super-utility role, and as he showed in the Texas League and the Venezuelan Winter League, he can use his speed to hit above .300. Just maybe there is still some stolen base potential, too.

Taylor Featherston, 2B, Angels: Drafted out of the Rockies' system, Featherston hasn't been an especially selective hitter, but he has provided a combination of decent speed and power. Oddly, he had better power splits on the road last season, even though he played in Tulsa, which has been one of the better home run parks in the Texas League. That bodes well for his ability to hit for power at pitcher-friendly Angel Stadium. Featherston is competing to replace Howie Kendrick as the Angels' second baseman, and if he wins regular playing time, he could be useful to owners in deeper Fantasy formats.

Mark Canha, 1B, Athletics: Canha is the most advanced of the five prospects featured here, as he played 127 games in Triple-A last season. The Marlins had bigger plans for first base, as their offseason signing of Michael Morse showed, but Canha acquitted himself well in the Pacific Coast League, hitting .303 with 20 home runs and 28 doubles. He could replace former Rule 5 pick Nate Freiman as a backup first baseman in Oakland, but with Josh Reddick down with an oblique injury, Canha could find some playing time in the outfield.

Jason Garcia, SP, Orioles: Garcia has never pitched above Class A and his minor league stats have generally been underwhelming. Since returning from his 2013 Tommy John surgery, though, Garcia has thrown harder, hitting 100 mph at times, and he has been impressive so far this spring. He is probably the longest shot to make his team out of spring training within this group, but based on what he has done since his surgery, he could have the highest ceiling. The Orioles don't have a rotation opening right now, but an injury down the road could open up an opportunity for Garcia, should he make the squad in a relief role.

Delino DeShields, OF, Rangers: DeShields is an extreme long shot to win a starting job with the Rangers, but he won't necessarily need regular playing time to be worth owning in deeper Rotisserie leagues. Simply put, DeShields is speedy, and he could fit the Jarrod Dyson/Craig Gentry mold of contributing in the steals category while playing in a reserve role. He followed up his 101-steal campaign in 2012 with a pair of 50-plus steal seasons, and he has shown an ability to draw walks and hit with a little pop.