BALTIMORE -- The Orioles added three players, including top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey, to the 40-man roster in advance of next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Harvey was protected along with Austin Wynns and David Hess, bringing the 40-man roster to 33 players and ensuring the trio is ineligible to be plucked by another organization. Catcher Chance Sisco -- Baltimore's No. 1 prospect as ranked by MLBPipeline.com -- and pitcher Tanner Scott were also added to the 40-man as September callups, giving the O's some promising youth on their roster.
Harvey, the club's No. 7 prospect, was a slam dunk to be added, and the 2013 first-round Draft pick -- despite various injuries slowing him -- could move quickly now that he's healthy. Wynns is considered the team's No. 3 catcher after a solid season at Double-A Bowie in which he hit .281/.377/.419. His addition was also expected and necessary in case of injury to either Sisco or Caleb Joseph. Hess, ranked No. 28, had a solid makeup year at Double-A, lowering his ERA to 3.85 and re-establishing the righty as an arm the organization values.
With the Orioles' roster at 33 and players like infielder Steve Wilkerson -- who had a nice Arizona Fall League season -- off, Baltimore is either confident he won't be selected or in its depth if he is picked.
Players who are 18 or younger on June 5 before signing are eligible for the fifth Rule 5 Draft after they are in the professional ranks (if they are not on a team's roster). Players 19 or older on the June 5 before signing become eligible for the fourth Rule 5 Draft after signing.
The Orioles have been incredibly active in the Rule 5 portion of the Draft at the Winter Meetings under executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. Ryan Flaherty, Joey Rickard and Anthony Santander are some of their recent selections.
The Rule 5 Draft takes place the final day of the Winter Meetings.