Cubs invite 25 non-roster players to major league spring training camp
With spring training set to set with pitchers and catchers reporting next week, the Cubs’ roster picture became a little clearer Friday afternoon. The Cubs announced that 25 non-roster players were invited to major league spring training.
Among the players the Cubs invited were right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller, who debuted with the Cardinals in 2012 and has been in the big leagues for 8 seasons, spending the 2019 season with the Rangers. He had signed a deal in 2020 with the Brewers but opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other pitchers of note include Adam Morgan who has pitched in parts of six seasons all with the Phillies, Rex Brothers, who appeared in 3 games in 2020 for the Cubs and Brendon Little, who was the Cubs 1st round draft pick in 2017, but hasn’t pitched above High-A. Morgan, a left-handed reliever, had 11.1 strikeouts per 9 innings rate and has a shot at earning a spot in the Cubs bullpen.
The other pitchers invited to camp were righties Joe Biagini, James Bourque, Juan Gámez, Jake Jewell, Trevor Megill, Tommy Nance and Michael Rucker and lefties DJ Snelten and Jerry Vasto.
The Cubs invited five infielders: Abiatal Avelino, who they claimed off waivers from the Giants in the offseason and starred in the Dominican Winter League, Matt Duffy, who finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2015 to Kris Bryant, Trent Giambrone, Alfonso Rivas and Patrick Wisdom, who appeared in 2 games for the Cubs in 2020.
Four outfielders were invited to major league camp: Michael Hermosillo, Nick Martini, Rafael Ortega and the speedy Ian Miller who impressed in 2020 spring training before the pandemic shutdown the spring.
P.J. Higgins, a 12th round pick in the 2015 draft who could potentially play in the big leagues at some point in 2021, was among three catchers invited to big league camp. The others are Taylor Gushue and José Lobatón, a nine-year veteran who last appeared in a big league game in 2018.