The Chicago Cubs know they will get contributions this season from players who aren’t yet on their 40-man roster.
Spring training presents an opportunity for those nonroster players to put themselves on the organization’s radar. The Cubs on Monday announced invitations to big-league camp for 18 such players.
The breakdown by position:
Pitchers (8): Jeff Brigham, Grant Kipp, Corbin Martin, Connor Noland, Connor Schultz, Collin Snider, Trent Thornton and Jaxon Wiggins.
Catchers (3): Ariel Armas, Christian Bethancourt and Casey Optiz.
Infielders (4): Scott Kingery, Jonathon Long, B.J. Murray and Jefferson Rojas.
Outfielders (3): Brett Bateman, Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick.
The group notably features two of their top prospects in Wiggins and Rojas, while the position-player invitees give the Cubs depth options with big-league experience in Kingery, Carlson and McCormick.
Carlson and McCormick have the clearest path to making the opening-day roster as the Cubs look for a fourth outfielder to back up their three starters. Both Carlson, a former first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals, and McCormick, who when healthy played well in Houston, can play all three outfield positions.
The Cubs hold their first formal workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday at the team’s complex in Mesa, Ariz. Their first full-squad workout is slated for next Monday.