Top prospects headed to Giants Spring Training
SAN FRANCISCO -- Top Giants prospects Joey Bart and Sean Hjelle are among the 18 non-roster invitees to Major League Spring Training announced by the club on Monday.
Outfielder Joey Rickard, who was non-tendered last month, and infielders Cristhian Adames and Zach Green, who were outrighted off the 40-man roster before agreeing to new Minor League deals in November, also received invitations from the Giants.
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Bart, 23, made his first appearance in big league camp last year and is poised to continue his tutelage under Buster Posey this spring. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, Bart is not expected to break camp with the Giants this year, but he seems likely to make his Major League debut at some point this season.
Two other catchers -- Tyler Heineman and Chad Tromp -- will also be in camp as non-roster invitees. Heineman, a 28-year-old switch-hitter, has a .363 career on-base percentage in the Minors and will have the opportunity to challenge Aramis Garcia for the backup catcher job.
Hjelle, a 6-foot-11 right-hander who is ranked the Giants’ No. 6 prospect, will be one of 10 non-roster pitchers this spring. A second-round pick in 2018, Hjelle reached Double-A Richmond last season and could be in position to contribute to the big league rotation this year.
Newcomers include former A’s right-hander Andrew Triggs, who missed last season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery. Triggs, 30, was selected by the Giants in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of the University of Southern California but did not sign. He debuted with Oakland in '16 and logged a 4.53 ERA over 45 appearances (27 starts) over parts of three Major League seasons.
Here’s the full list of the Giants’ non-roster invitees:
Pitchers (10)
RHP Matt Carasiti
RHP Tyler Cyr
RHP Rico Garcia
RHP Sean Hjelle
RHP Trey McNutt
LHP Sam Moll
RHP Carlos Navas
RHP Andrew Triggs
RHP Raffi Vizcaino
RHP Sam Wolff
Catchers (3)
Joey Bart
Tyler Heineman
Chad Tromp
Infielders (3)
Cristhian Adames
Zach Green
Drew Robinson
Outfielders (2)
Joey Rickard
Jamie Westbrook