The Los Angeles Dodgers have invited a group of 19 non-roster players to spring training, which opens in February at Camelback Ranch - Glendale in Phoenix, Arizona. The group includes two Dodgers minor league catchers, Gorman Erickson and Matt Wallach, and 17 others signed to minor-league pacts this winter.
Josh Bard is the other non-roster catcher invited to camp, a 34-year old switch-hitting catcher who hit .210/.256/.333 in 86 plate appearances with the Seattle Mariners last season. Former highly-touted White Sox prospect Josh Fields highlights the infielders signed to minor league deals, and he will be joined by Luis Cruz, Jeff Baisley, and Lance Zawadzki. Former Colorado Rockies outfielder Cory Sullivan was also invited to Dodgers' camp.
There are 11 pitchers invited to Dodgers big league camp, with the left-handers the most likely to earn a spot in the bullpen. Scott Elbert is currently the only left-handed pitcher on the 40-man roster with a secure spot in the bullpen, and if Ned Colletti, Don Mattingly and the staff decide to go with a second southpaw it will likely come from this batch of non-roster invitees. The left-handed pitchers signed to minor league deals include Matt Chico, Alberto Castillo, John Grabow, Wil Ledezma, and Scott Rice.
Right-handed pitchers signed to minor league deals are Jose Ascanio, Angel Guzman, Shane Lindsay, Fernando Nieve, Will Savage, and Ryan Tucker.
That brings the total number of Dodgers to open spring training in big league camp to 59, and that doesn't include relief pitcher Ronald Belisario, who is currently on the restricted list but is expected to report to camp.
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