Cubs announce 25 non-roster invitees to spring training

Cubs pitchers and catchers have a report date for Spring Training coming up next week. That will include the complete 40-man roster, plus 25 players who were announced Friday as having invitations to camp.

Pitchers (13)

Joe Biagini, Rex Brothers, James Bourque, Juan Gámez, Jake Jewell, Brendon Little, Adam Morgan, Trevor Megill, Shelby Miller, Tommy Nance, Michael Rucker, DJ Snelten and Jerry Vasto

Catchers (3)

Taylor Gushue, P.J. Higgins and José Lobatón

Infielders (5)

Abiatal Avelino, Matt Duffy, Trent Giambrone, Alfonso Rivas and Patrick Wisdom

Outfielders (4)

Michael Hermosillo, Nick Martini, Ian Miller and Rafael Ortega

Several of these players have significant MLB experience, including Shelby Miller, Matt Duffy and Joe Biagini.

It seems likely that at least one of the outfielders listed could make the 26-man roster, as the Cubs have just five outfielders on the 40-man roster (or will, after the Jake Marisnick signing is made official).

Duffy, a former starting third baseman for the Giants and Rays, has a good shot at making the roster as a backup.

Shelby Miller will be in the mix for the starting rotation.

Since minor-league spring training will not begin until after MLB wraps things up in camp, there won’t be the usual “guys from the minor-league side” who finish games. This is one reason teams have agreed that with the consent of both managers, early spring games (the first two weeks) could be five or seven innings long (or, could go the full nine), and in the second two weeks seven or nine innings.

The 25 players listed here plus the 40-man roster, then, will be the only players appearing in spring games. There will be 28 games — no split squads this year — beginning Monday, March 1, when the Cubs visit the Padres at Peoria, Arizona, as announced earlier Friday.