Cubs invite 19 non-roster players to spring training

Every year, teams issue invitations to spring training for players not on their 40-man roster.

There are many reasons for this. Some of the players are guys within the organization who management and the coaching staff wants to get a better look at. Others have been signed for organizational depth. Still others are former big leaguers who have a chance to make the 25-man roster, or at least stick at Iowa in case of injury.

Also, with teams liking to ease players into play early in the spring, many of these players will get lots of playing time in big-league spring games, especially split-squad games.

Here’s the complete list of players who will join the 40-man roster in camp beginning next month.

Pitchers (9)

Alberto Baldonado, Anthony Bass, Craig Brooks, Daniel Camarena, David Garner, Justin Hancock, Thomas Hatch, WIlliams Perez, Kyle Ryan

Catchers (4)

Taylor Davis, Chris Gimenez, Ian Rice, Ali Solis

Infielders (4)

Ryan Court, Mike Freeman, Jason Vosler, Chesny Young

Outfielders (2)

Jacob Hannemann, Bijan Rademacher

Other than Gimenez, who’s widely assumed to being the backup to Willson Contreras, there really isn’t anyone on the list of 19 players above who has any real chance of making the Opening Day roster. There are several players from within the organization (Hatch, Vosler, Hannemann, Rademacher) who should get some playing time as a possible prelude to some big-league time later on. Hannemann was claimed by the Mariners and played in a few games for them last September, only to be waived and re-claimed by the Cubs.

With these 19 names now released, the Cubs should have 58 players in camp (the 40-man roster is currently at 39), which begins with the first pitcher/catcher workout February 14. The first full-squad workout is February 19, and the first game will be February 23 against the Brewers.

Baseball’s almost back!