Royals invite 19 non-roster players to spring training
A couple familiar faces and a host of intriguing prospects will be present as non-roster invitees when the Kansas City Royals kick off spring training in Surprise, Arizona next month.
The Royals announced Friday that they've invited 19 non-roster players to major league spring training. Among the invitations are seven pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders and two outfielders.
Included in the 19 invitees are 16 players that were in the Royals organization last season. Left-handed pitchers Foster Griffin (first round, 2014) and Richard Lovelady (10th round, 2016); right-handed pitchers Glenn Sparkman (20th round, 2013) and Josh Staumont (second round, 2015); catchers Nicholas Dini (14th round, 2015), Parker Morin (14th round 2012) and Chase Vallot (Competitive Balance round, 2014); infielders Jack Lopez (16th round, 2011), Nicky Lopez (fifth round, 2016), Ryan O’Hearn (eighth round, 2014) and Frank Schwindel (18th round, 2013) and outfielder Terrance Gore (20th round, 2011) were all drafted by the Royals. Infielder Humberto Arteaga signed as an international free agent in 2010. Right-handed pitchers Kevin Lenik and Seth Maness and outfielder Donnie Dewees played in the Royals’ organization last season. Right-handed pitcher Mike Broadway, infielder/outfielder Cody Asche and infielder Erick Mejia are new to the organization in 2018.
Gore and Maness both saw major league action with the Royals in 2017 before being removed from the 40-man roster. Gore played in 12 games, stealing two bases while working as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. Maness made eight relief appearances, posting a 3.72 ERA with four strikeouts and two walks over 9 2/3 innings.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise on Tuesday, February 13. Workouts for pitchers and catchers begin the following day, Wednesday, February 14. The remainder of the squad will report on Sunday, February 18 and begin workouts for the 2018 campaign on Monday, February 19.
