Pirates selected the contract of RHP Ryan Harbin from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The procedural move prevents Harbin from hitting minor league free agency and shields him from being scooped up in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. The 24-year-old righty compiled a 4.69 ERA and 92/46 K/BB ratio across 63 1/3 innings over 50 appearances last year across three minor-league levels. He should compete for a spot in the Pirates’ season-opening bullpen in spring training.