O's gear up for draft, Rule 5 duo off to a good start and looking for a spring surprise

This is going to be a very different First-Year Player Draft for scouting director Gary Rajsich and his staff. The Orioles have more picks early in the draft and are allotted more money to spend in their bonus pool from MLB.

After not having a selection last year until the 90th overall pick, which came in the third round, now the Orioles have five of the first 102 picks.

They will select No. 25 overall in the first round, No. 36 overall (compensation for losing Nelson Cruz), No. 68 in the second round, No. 74 (competitive balance round B pick that can be traded) and No. 102 in the third round.

The Orioles select 28th in each round thereafter.

With more high picks, the O's pool for bonus is the ninth-most of any organization at $7,677,400. Last year, it was the lowest of any team at $2,204,400. The biggest bonuses went to third-round pitcher Brian Gonzalez, who got $700,000, and sixth-round pitcher Tanner Scott, who got $650,000.

The No. 25 pick was slotted to get $1,898,000 in 2014. In this story, Baseball America's John Manuel reported there will be an 8.77 percent increase in the total bonus pool this year. So that No. 25 pick should be slotted in a range that could approach last year's total pool for the Orioles.

In 2014, the Orioles drafted 38 players and signed 30, 19 of which were pitchers. Rajsich has selected a pitcher with his top pick in each of his three drafts with the club - Kevin Gausman was No. 4 overall in 2012, Hunter Harvey was No. 22 in 2013 and Gonzalez ws No. 90 last June.

Good starts for Rule 5 guys: Jason Garcia pitched two scoreless innings for the Orioles yesterday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Logan Verrett had pitched two scoreless frames in the exhibition opener against Detroit on Tuesday in Lakeland.

During FanFest, I talked to Verrett about the balancing act a Rule 5 pick faces. He wants to work on his pitches to get ready for the season, but he wants to put up good results to give Orioles manager Buck Showalter a reason to keep him on opening day.

"I have to come in, compete for a job and win a job," he said. "There are a lot of good guys in the starting rotation and bullpen that are phenomenal pitchers. My work is cut out for me. But that is what makes it fun, competing against the best. Ultimately, that makes everyone better.

"It is an odd feeling. Lot of fun being here at FanFest and interacting with the fans, but it is a weird feeling knowing that there is a possibility you are no longer with this organization come April. I'll do all I can to make sure I stick. Just excited to show them what I can do."

Also, here is another look at the story I wrote after the Rule 5 draft in December, detailing the stunning instructional league outing by Garcia that put him on the O's radar. He's been impressive in camp so far and so has Verrett.

Spring surprise?: Will a non-roster player make the Orioles on opening day and/or have a chance to make a solid contribution this year?

When camp started, the O's had the following non-roster players:

* Pitchers Dane De La Rosa, Hunter Harvey, Mark Hendrickson, Steve Johnson, Chris Jones, Chaz Roe

* Catcher J.P Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway, Brian Ward

* Infielders Michael Almanzar, Paul Janish, Chris Parmelee

* Outfielders Dariel Alvarez, Nolan Reimold, Matt Tuiasosopo

Who you got for a camp surprise? Anyone?