The Chicago Cubs have revealed their non-roster invitees for this year’s big league Spring Training, and it’s a prospect-heavy group:
#Cubs have invited 19 non-roster players to Spring Training, including … OF: Albert Almora, Mike Baxter, Adron Chambers …
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 6, 2015
… INF: Kris Bryant, Jonathan Herrera, Addison Russell, Chris Valaika, Logan Watkins (injured); C: Kyle Schwarber, Taylor Teagarden …
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 6, 2015
… P: Daniel Bard, Corey Black, Francisley Bueno, Anthony Carter, Hunter Cervenka, Jorge De Leon, Pierce Johnson, Armando Rivero, Donn Roach.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 6, 2015
Remember: anyone already on the 40-man roster will be in big league camp already. Hence the term “non-roster invitee.”
In all, it looks to be the guys you’d expect, including the offseason’s notable minor league signings, together with the upper level big name prospects. Although most of the prospects won’t actually have a chance to win a job on the big league club’s 25-man roster out of Spring Training, it does give them a few weeks of experience working with the big league staff and the big league members of the club.
Imagine a Spring game featuring Bryant, Russell, Schwarber, and Almora, started by Johnson. Fun times, y’all.
As for the rest of the group, one name that stands out is Hunter Cervenka, a lefty who will be among the many competitors trying to win a job in the bullpen. He’s not yet pitched above AA, and he’s got some control issues, but Cervenka sure does strike a lot of guys out.
If you’re unfamiliar with any of the outside signings (plus Roach, who was a waiver addition, and a subsequent DFA), you can see more at these links on Mike Baxter, Adron Chambers, Jonathan Herrera, Taylor Teagarden, Daniel Bard, Francisley Bueno, Anthony Carter, Jorge De Leon, and Donn Roach.