Royals invite 17 non-roster players to spring training
Among the players who will try to make the Opening Day roster of the world champion Kansas City Royals will be 17 non-roster players who were invited to major league spring training in Surprise, Ariz.
Among the invitations are nine pitchers, three catchers and five infielders.
Included in the 17 invitees are 12 players who were in the Royals' organization last season. Left-handed pitchers Jonathan Dziedzic (13th round, 2013) and Sam Selman (second round, 2012), right-handed pitcher Christian Binford (30th round, 2011), catchers Zane Evans (fourth round, 2013), Cam Gallagher (second round, 2011) and Parker Morin (14th round, 2012), and infielders Hunter Dozier (first round -- eighth overall, 2013) and Whit Merrifield (ninth round, 2010) were all drafted by the Royals. Right-handed pitcher Aroni Nina and infielder Orlando Calixte both signed as a non-drafted free agents. Right-handed pitcher Brooks Pounders has played in the organization since 2012, while infielder Dusty Coleman signed as a minor league free agent prior to the 2015 season.
Other non-roster invitees include left-handed pitchers David Huff and John Lannan, right-handed pitchers Dillon Gee and Chien-Ming Wang, and infielder Cody Decker.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise on Thursday, February 18. Workouts for pitchers begin the following day. The remainder of the squad will report on Monday, February 22, and begin workouts on Tuesday, February 23.
