Colorado Rockies Announce Non-Roster Players for Spring Training
The Colorado Rockies have announced the club’s non-roster invitations to 2017 Major League Spring Training. Below is the current list of 22 players, by position.
Left-handed pitchers: Kyle Freeland, Sam Howard, Harrison Musgrave, Jerry Vasto
Right-handed pitchers: Matt Carasiti, Ryan Castellani, James Farris, Johendi Jiminian, C.C. Lee
Catchers: Anthony Bemboom, Dom Nunez, Chris Rabago, Jan Vazquez
Outfielders: Noel Cuevas, Chris Denorfia, Rosell Herrera, Michael Tauchman
Infielders: Stephen Cardullo, Daniel Castro, Ryan McMahon, Mark Reynolds, Rafael Ynoa
Of the 22 total non-roster invites, 17 were in the Rockies organization in 2016. Here’s a breakdown of the five players who weren’t:
Catcher Anthony Bemboom was claimed in the Minor League phase of the 2016 Rule 5 draft from the Los Angeles Angels.
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Infielder Daniel Castro played parts of two seasons with Atlanta in 2015-16, and was signed to a Minor League contract Nov. 21, 2016.
Outfielder Chris Denorfia, who has played parts of 10 Major League seasons with Cincinnati, Oakland, San Diego, Seattle and the Chicago Cubs, was signed to a Minor League contract Jan. 13. He played for the AZL Giants and Triple-A Sacramento of the San Francisco Giants organization in 2016, and last played in the Major Leagues in 2015 with the Cubs (103 games).
Right-hander James Farris was acquired via trade with the Chicago Cubs Feb. 1 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Eddie Butler. He has played as high as Double-A, making 26 relief appearances at that level in 2016.
Right-hander C.C. Lee was signed to a Minor League contract Dec. 23, 2016, having played in Japan in 2016 and for Cleveland in the Major Leagues in parts of three seasons from 2013-15.
Of the 17 invitees that played in the Rockies organization in 2016, 10 players were originally drafted by Colorado, two were signed as non-drafted international free agents (Herrera, Jiminian), three players were signed as a Minor League free agents (Cardullo, Vazquez, Ynoa), one player was signed as a Major League free agent (Reynolds) and one player was acquired via trade (Cuevas).
Carasiti, Cardullo, Reynolds and Ynoa all made appearances at the Major League level for the Rockies in 2016.
Castellani (6), Freeland (8) and McMahon (9) are all ranked on Baseball America’s 2017 Colorado Rockies Top 10 Prospects list.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to have their first workout February 14, with the first full-squad workout scheduled for February 20.
