In past eras of the Orioles, the Rule 5 draft was one of the staples of the offseason calendar, with both Mike Elias and his predecessor Dan Duquette often using the draft to try to pluck less heralded minor leaguers straight to the majors and see what would happen. That’s been the pattern, but for the second straight year the O’s went through the Rule 5 draft without making a selection.
This year, the Orioles did lose a player to someone else. Pitching prospect Juan Nuñez, who was part of the trade return two years ago for Jorge López, was not added to the 40-man roster and he was chosen by the Padres in the draft.