DALLAS — If anyone wondered what other MLB organizations thought of the Orioles’ farm system and player development operation, what happened Wednesday afternoon during the winter meetings provided that answer.

The Orioles will leave the winter meetings with seven fewer prospects than they came with, and that’s not because they made a blockbuster trade. Seven Orioles minor leaguers were selected in MLB’s Rule 5 draft — one in the major league portion and six in the Triple-A version — while Baltimore was one of two teams not to take a player.

The Orioles’ biggest prospect scooped up by another club was right-handed starting pitcher Juan Nuñez, whom the San Diego Padres selected in a surprise move. Nuñez, 24, is the Orioles’ No. 11 prospect and fourth-best pitcher, according to Baseball America. He’s even higher on MLB Pipeline, which has him ranked No. 8 in Baltimore’s system as the second-best pitcher.

Despite his standing as one of the Orioles’ better prospects, Nuñez was not expected by many to be selected in the Rule 5 draft. He’s never pitched above High-A and missed most of 2024 with a shoulder injury.

The Rule 5 draft allows teams to select eligible players left off 40-man rosters by other organizations, though it’s not a guarantee Nuñez remains with the Padres. The drafting team is required to keep its selections on the major league roster (or MLB injured list) for a year or offer the player back to his original club.

Nuñez was part of the controversial Jorge López trade in 2022 that also brought back Yennier Cano and Cade Povich to Baltimore. In 2023, Nuñez posted a 3.96 ERA and a 27.9% strikeout rate between Low-A Delmarva and High-A Aberdeen. He was more dominant to begin 2024 before his injury, pitching to a 2.45 ERA and striking out 32.2% of batters in 29 1/3 innings.

The Orioles went without selecting a player in the major league portion for the second straight year after the club had done so in each Rule 5 draft since 2006.

The Rule 5 draft is often like finding a needle in a haystack, but organizations often see little harm in testing a player out during spring training to see if they can make the team.

Over the years, the Orioles have found major league-caliber players with several Rule 5 picks, including infielder Ryan Flaherty (2011), left-hander T.J. McFarland (2012), outfielder Joey Rickard (2015), outfielder Anthony Santander (2016) and right-hander Tyler Wells (2020).

The Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft is when other organizations pillaged the Orioles’ farm system. The Orioles lost the following six players: Right-handers Tyler Burch (Colorado Rockies), Dan Hammer (Tampa Bay Rays), Jean Pinto (Houston Astros) and Zach Peek (Milwaukee Brewers); and outfielders John Rhodes (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Elio Prado (Philadelphia Phillies).

These players were available because the Orioles were unable to protect them by putting them on their 40-man roster this offseason.

There are no stipulations on teams that select players in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft.

Burch, 27, joined the Orioles organization in the Freddy Galvis trade with the Philadelphia Phillies in January 2021. Burch spent the past several years with Double-A Bowie as he’s dealt with injuries. Hammer, 27, was the 13th-round pick of Mike Elias’ first draft as Orioles general manager in 2019. He posted a 4.46 ERA in 30 relief appearances for the Baysox last year.

Pinto, 23, was included in the Jose Iglesias trade in December 2020 with the Los Angeles Angels. Pinto has a career 3.11 ERA in the minors, but he missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. Peek, 26, was acquired in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in 2019 — the deal that also brought Kyle Bradish to Baltimore. Peek has pitched on 26 1/3 innings over the past two seasons as he’s dealt with injuries.

Rhodes, 24, was a third-round pick in 2021 and posted a .580 OPS in Double-A last season. Prado, 23, was part of the Andrew Cashner trade with the Boston Red Sox in July 2019. He posted a .659 OPS in Aberdeen last season.

While Nuñez was selected, other players the Orioles couldn’t protect weren’t, including pitching prospects Alex Pham and Keagan Gillies. The Orioles added right-handers Brandon Young and Kade Strowd to their 40-man roster ahead of last month’s deadline to protect players.

Around the horn

The Orioles have promoted special assignment scout Will Robertson to director of player personnel, the club announced.

Bradish, who underwent Tommy John surgery in June, posted a video on Instagram of him beginning a throwing program. He’s expected to miss most of 2025 but could return late in the season.

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