Astros take outfielder in Rule 5 draft

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HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros selected outfielder Willy Taveras from the Cleveland Indians on Monday in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft.

Taveras, 21, hit .282 with two home runs and 35 RBIss for Class A Kinston of the Carolina League this season. He stole 57 bases, tops in the Cleveland organization in 2003 and the second-best total in the Carolina League.

Taveras also led Kinston with 64 runs scored. In five minor league seasons, he has 202 stolen bases and has been caught 52 times.

Houston also selected left-handed pitcher Sean Babula from the Baltimore organization in the Triple A phase of the draft. No Astros minor-leaguers were taken by other teams.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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