The White Sox announced Friday they've added three players to the 40-man roster in third baseman Jake Burger, first baseman Gavin Sheets and right-handed pitcher Tyler Johnson.
Adding the trio to the 40-man, which is now full, protects them from exposure to next month's Rule 5 Draft. The deadline to add Rule 5-eligible players is Friday at 5 p.m. CT.
Burger (first-round), Sheets (second-) and Johnson (fifth-) each are members of the White Sox' 2017 draft class. Burger, the No. 11 overall pick that season, hasn't played a minor league game since 2017 after tearing his left Achilles tendon in 2018 spring training, re-tearing it during his rehab that May.
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Burger and Johnson each were part of the White Sox' 60-man player pool this season, training at their Schaumburg alternate site. Johnson reached Double-A in 2019, as did Sheets, who was not part of the 2020 player pool.
Sheets (No. 10), Burger (No. 14) and Johnson (No. 24) each are ranked among the White Sox' top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline.
Rule 5-eligible players are those signed/drafted at 18 years old or younger who were not added to their club's 40-man roster within five seasons, or those signed/drafted at 19 or younger not added within four seasons.
The White Sox also announced Friday they claimed right-handed pitcher Emilio Vargas off waivers from the Diamondbacks.