Chapman, Puk among A's non-roster spring invites

OAKLAND -- The A's have extended Spring Training invites to 26 non-roster players, a group that includes several of their top prospects, as well as a slew of new faces hoping to make a home in the organization. Notable names on this list include:
INF Matt Chapman: The A's 2014 first-round Draft pick, ranked by MLB Pipeline as their No. 4 prospect, returns for his second big league camp. After greatly impressing in his first go around, Chapman proceeded to mash 36 home runs while racking up 96 RBIs in 135 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Nashville. He's expected to take over at third base in Oakland at some point in 2017.
OF Jaff Decker: Decker was outrighted to Triple-A Durham by the Rays in October but instead elected free agency and ultimately inked a Minor League deal with the A's. The outfielder has seen sparse playing time over four seasons in the Majors, but he hit .255 with a .366 on-base percentage and 12 home runs in 99 Triple-A games last season.
LHP Felix Doubront: Originally pegged for a spot in the A's Opening Day rotation last year, Doubront suffered an elbow injury in his final spring exhibition start and underwent Tommy John surgery soon after, forcing him out of the 2016 season. Like right-hander Chris Bassitt, Doubront could be a rotation option for the A's midseason.
RHP Daniel Gossett: Gossett, a second-round Draft pick of the A's in 2014, led Oakland's farm system with 151 strikeouts last season. He made 27 starts between three levels, reaching Triple-A in September, and finished with a combined 2.69 ERA. This will be his first appearance in big league camp. He's considered the club's No. 18 prospect.
RHP Tucker Healy: Healy was left unprotected ahead of last week's Rule 5 Draft, but the A's didn't lose him, allowing them to take a good look at the reliever this spring. Healy held opponents to a .202 batting average in 44 relief appearances for Nashville last season, pitching to a 3.61 ERA and striking out 76 batters in 52 1/3 innings.
INF Richie Martin: Martin, 21, returns to big league camp a second time, after combining to hit .235 with three home runs and 38 RBIs in 91 games between Class A Advanced Stockton and Midland this year. Martin, a shortstop, was the A's first-round Draft pick in 2015 and is ranked as their No. 6 prospect.

OF Chris Parmelee: Parmelee, 28, hit .248 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 64 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year. He also spent some time in the Majors, going 4-for-8 with two home runs and four RBIs in six games with the Yankees. He's a career .248 hitter with 30 homers in 311 games over six Major League seasons.
LHP A.J. Puk: The A's 2016 first-round Draft selection went 0-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 10 starts with Class A Short Season Vermont in his professional debut, limiting opponents to a .185 batting average and striking out 40 batters in 32 2/3 innings. Puk is the A's No. 2 prospect.

RHP Tyler Sturdevant: The reliever made his big league debut at age 30 this year, compiling a 3.93 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Rays. He also totaled four saves and a 3.66 ERA in 34 games with Durham.
RHP César Valdez: The A's reeled in Valdez on a Minor League deal, after watching him go 12-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 30 games, 18 of them starts, with Houston's Triple-A affiliate. He struck out 114 and walked only 13 in 138 1/3 innings and could emerge as a middle-relief option for the A's.
Others: RHPs Michael Brady, Simon Castro, Trey Cochran-Gill, Heath Fillmyer, Aaron Kurcz, Chris Smith and Josh A. Smith; INFs Jermaine Curtis, Rangel Ravelo, Max Schrock and Josh Rodriguez; OFs Andrew Lambo and Kenny Wilson; catchers Ryan Lavarnway, Matt McBride and Sean Murphy.