The Milwaukee Brewers added five prospects to their 40-man roster this week including 22-year-old Scooter Gennett the club's second baseman of the future. The move protects the club from losing Gennett in next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Along with Gennett, who is ranked by MLB.com as the club's number six prospect, the Brewers added right-hander Hiram Burgos, their 2012 Minor League pitcher of the year, plus outfielder Josh Prince, right-handed pitcher Nick Bucci and outfielder Khris Davis (ranked No. 18). The Brewers' roster now stands at 39.
Major League Baseball's deadline to protect players was Tuesday at 10:59 p.m. CT. Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five years or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years old are to be protected within four years.
Clubs pay $50,000 to select a player in the Rule 5 Draft, to be held on Dec. 6 at the conclusion of the Winter Meetings in Nashville. If that player doesn't stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $25,000.
