Eighteen non-roster players invited to Orioles spring training

The Orioles are inviting 18 non-roster players to spring training, with the possibility of further additions depending on other moves that could be made before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12.

The group of invites includes eight pitchers - right-handers Dean Kremer, Gregory Infante, Gabriel Ynoa, Zach Pop, Josh Lucas and Bo Schultz, and left-handers Chris Lee and Sean Gilmartin.

Also receiving lockers at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are catchers Martin Cervenka, Carlos Pérez and Andrew Susac, the latter outrighted after clearing waivers earlier this month. Infielders Jace Peterson, Ryan Mountcastle, Chris Bostick and Zach Vincej, and outfielders Yusniel Díaz, Ryan McKenna and Mike Yastrzemski also are on the invite list.

Kremer, part of the return from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade, led the minors with 178 strikeouts over 131 1/3 innings. Díaz and Pop also came to the Orioles in exchange for Machado.

Díaz is regarded as the top prospect in the Orioles system.

Mountcastle also ranks highly on every prospect list for the Orioles due to a bat that produced a .297/.341/.464 slash line with 19 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs in 102 games with Double-A Bowie. He got a late start to the season after fracturing his right hand in a March exhibition game.

The new regime can figure out whether he stays at third base or shifts again to a new position. First base and left field are possibilities.

Schultz, signed to a minor league deal on Jan. 11, missed the 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Cervenka and Pérez could compete for a job in spring training with only two catchers, Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco, currently on the 40-man roster. I'm hearing that talks to bring back Caleb Joseph have cooled and he's likely to join another organization.

Yastrzemski earned his shot this spring and provides a nice story for the local media - and probably a few Red Sox writers. He had six triples and registered a .359 on-base percentage in 94 games with Norfolk.

A few notable absences include infielders Engelb Vielma and Sean Miller, the former appearing in six games last season - all on the road - before the Orioles outrighted him in November. Vielma fractured his patella in May while chasing a foul ball for Triple-A Norfolk.

Left-handers Keegan Akin and Luis Gonzalez and right-hander Taylor Grover also failed to receive an invite, though anyone can be brought over from Twin Lakes Park to work out and appear in games as extras. Former manager Buck Showalter called them JICs, for "just in case."

Akin and Zac Lowther shared the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award, named after Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Akin posted a 3.27 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings at Double-A Bowie.

Grover was taken from the Reds organization in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. He was throwing 102 mph over the summer while pitching in two independent leagues.

Every player on the 40-man roster automatically is included on the spring training roster.

The first workout is slated for Feb. 13, with the initial full-squad workout held five days later.