Orioles lose former prospect Carter Baumler in Rule 5 draft; Walker claimed off waivers, Romo designated for assignment

ORLANDO—For the third consecutive year, the Orioles didn’t take a player in the Rule 5 draft. This year, they had a full 40-man roster so they weren’t eligible to participate.

They lost one player, 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler, who was once a rising prospect in the organization before his career was derailed by injuries.

Baumler, who was an overslot fifth-round selection in the truncated 2020 draft, was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 7-1 with a 3.05 ERA and two saves in 49 games.

In 2025, Baumler was 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA with two saves in 28 games all in relief with Double-A Chesapeake, High-A Aberdeen and the Florida Complex League Orioles.

The Pirates must keep Baumler on their 26-man roster all season or else he’ll be offered back to the Orioles.

Ryan Watson, who was the Orioles’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2022, was picked by the Athletics from San Francisco’s organization.

For the second straight year, the Orioles did not make a selection in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft.

They lost right-handed pitcher Justin Armbruester to the New York Mets in the Triple-A draft. Armbruester, who was the team’s 12^th-round selection in 2021, had been invited to major league spring training the past two years.

He’s also battled injuries and was 1-0 in 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Norfolk this season. In his 92 games in the Orioles organization, Armbruester was 18-19 with a 4.83 ERA with three saves.

Notes: The Orioles claimed left-handed pitcher Josh Walker off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. They had lost Walker on waivers on November 13^th. Walker was selected off waivers from Philadelphia on August 21^st, but he didn’t pitch for the Orioles. Catcher Drew Romo, who was claimed from Colorado on Friday, was designated for assignment. … Joe Buck, longtime FOX Sports baseball broadcaster, was named winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.