Pirates add two prospects to 40-man roster before Rule 5 Draft

Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Pittsburgh Pirates added two players to their 40-man roster by 6 p.m. Tuesday to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.

Infielder Tsung-Che Cheng and pitcher Braxton Ashcraft were both selected and kept safe from being picked by any of the other 39 clubs as a Rule 5 pick, needing to spend the entire season with their new club or be offered back to their former team.

Ashcraft, 24, missed all of 2022 with Tommy John surgery and returned with a vengeance. The right-hander totaled a 2.39 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a .231 batting average against in 52.2 innings. He struck out 63 hitters and allowed 11 free passes. MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 Pirates prospect, the Bucs,…