Tuesday,
January 11, 2011
Twins Non-Roster Invites
Via Twitter, the Twins announced that they
are inviting 19 non-roster players to big league spring training. According to
the Tweet, the list will include “6 pitchers, 6 catchers, 5 infielders and 2
outfielders.”
According to the
press release sent later, here are the players who will come to Major
League spring training camp, along with those on the 40 man roster.
Pitchers:
Kyle Gibson, Carlos Gutierrez, Yorman Bazardo, Phil Dumatrait, Chuck
James, Kyle Waldrop.
Catchers:
Steve Holm, Rene Rivera, Jair Fernandez, Danny Rams,
Chris Herrmann, Danny Lehmann.
Infielders:
Chase Lambin, Brian Dozier, Justin Huber, Matt Brown,
Ray Chang.
Outfielders:
Jeff Bailey, Brian Dinkelman.
Shocked that wasn’t invited to spring
training: Steve Singleton. It makes no sense at all. Twins need to release him
and let him catch on with a team that will give a second baseman with a good
glove and pop in his bat a chance. When guys like Chase Lambin
and Matt Brown and Ray Chang are getting an opportunity ahead of him, it’s
really disappointing. Not sure what’s going on there.
I have written about each of the players
added throughout the offseason as the Twins added so many minor league free
agents. Chris Herrmann is an interesting add. They
really like him and keep calling him a catcher, but he’s actually a tremendous
defensive outfielder. Obviously he’s 2-3 years away from big league ready, but
it’s a nice honor for him. With so many pitchers in camp, they need plenty of
catchers too.
The big picture is that Waldrop and maybe Dumatrait are the only players above that have a chance to
make the team out of spring training. Gibson and Gutierrez, their 2009 and 2008
first round picks respectively, won’t make the team out of camp. They are
actually prospects, so expect to see them promoted in June, when they pass that
Super-2 date.
Any thoughts? Feel free to e-mail me or leave
your comments here.