Top prospects among Mariners' non-roster invitees

Top prospects among Mariners’ non-roster invitees

By Greg Johns / MLB.com | 01/11/13 6:40 PM ET

SEATTLE — Highly touted young prospects Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin are among 18 non-roster players invited to Major League Spring Training by the Mariners on Friday.

The 18 players extended invitations include 15 who were members of the Mariners’ organization last year, along with veteran first baseman Mike Jacobs, former Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman and 27-year-old reliever Jhonny Nunez, who was in the Rays’ organization last year.

Walker, Paxton, Zunino and Franklin are all ranked among MLB.com’s top 100 prospects. Danny Hultzen, Seattle’s other elite pitching prospect, is automatically invited to camp as a member of the 40-man Major League roster.

Walker, Paxton and Hultzen all were at the Major League camp last year, as well. Zunino, the 2012 first-round Draft choice, will be making his first Spring Training appearance.

Also getting their first Major League camp invites are young infielders Stefen Romero and Brad Miller, catcher John Hicks, right-handed starter Andrew Carraway and right-handed relievers Carson Smith and Logan Bawcom, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Brandon League trade last July.

D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar, the two pitchers obtained from the Yankees in the Ichiro Suzuki deal, have also been invited, along with right-hander Jonathan Arias and lefty Brian Moran.

Catcher Jesus Sucre is returning for his second Mariners camp after re-signing as a Minor League free agent.

Mariners pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz., on Feb. 12, with the first workout slated for Feb. 13. Position players are scheduled to report for physicals Feb. 15, followed by the first full-squad workout will be Feb. 16.

The Spring Training roster now sits at 58 players, including 30 pitchers (11 non-roster), five catchers (three non-roster), 15 infielders (four non-roster) and eight outfielders (no non-roster).

Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tigers set for Winter Caravan Jan. 24-25

Tigers set for Winter Caravan Jan. 24-25

By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 01/11/13 6:40 PM ET

DETROIT — The Tigers’ Winter Caravan has taken on a recent pattern of putting star players in everyday jobs. Remember Magglio Ordonez and Jose Valverde working the counter at McDonald’s? Recall Doug Fister’s stint at the Meijer bakery department last year?

This year, the Tigers are set to put Austin Jackson and Max Scherzer to work serving up burgers at a Red Robin restaurant in Madison Heights, Mich., while Phil Coke and Torii Hunter serve up coffee at a Dunkin Donuts location in Southfield.

The Tigers’ Winter Caravan is scheduled for Jan. 24-25, leading up to the return of TigerFest at Comerica Park on Saturday, Jan. 26. The full schedule of events for the caravan and players participating has not yet been released.

While tickets have sold out for fans to flock to Comerica Park for TigerFest, the caravan is meant to complement the headline event by bringing the players out to fans. Some of the events recognize outstanding efforts in the community. Others, like the players-on-the-job events, are more fun.

One leg of the caravan will keep players around for events in Detroit and surrounding areas. Another will tote players out to other parts of the state.

The unofficial start to the festivities is Jan. 23, when selected players and coaches branch out to two of the Tigers’ nearby Minor League affiliates for their offseason warmup events. Manager Jim Leyland will return home to Toledo, Ohio, along with much of his coaching staff for the Mud Hens’ annual Fandemonium celebration at Fifth Third Field.

Players scheduled to take part include infielder Danny Worth, catcher Brayan Holaday and left-handers Casey Crosby and Darin Downs, all of whom played for the Hens at some point last season. Tickets are on sale at mudhens.com or by calling 419-725-4367.

Around the same time, Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski will be in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he’ll be the guest speaker at the 19th annual West Michigan Whitecaps Winter Banquet at DeVos Place. New Whitecaps manager Larry Parrish is also slated to attend along with Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly and outfielders Andy Dirks and Quintin Berry. Former Tigers pitcher and Michigan native Andy Van Hekken will be inducted into the Whitecaps Hall of Fame.

The banquet begins at 5:45 p.m. ET, and includes a memorabilia auction. Proceeds from the auction and the dinner go to the Whitecaps Community Foundation to benefit the Grand Rapids YMCA inner city youth baseball and softball programs, along with the Detroit Tigers Foundation.

Tickets for the banquet are on sale through Monday, Jan. 14 at $ 80 per person or $ 900 for a corporate table for 10. For more information, call the Whitecaps at 616-726-7017.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck’s Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Giants add righty Tobin to bullpen competition

Giants add righty Tobin to bullpen competition

By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 01/11/13 6:55 PM ET

Mason Tobin pitched in four games for the Rangers in 2011, his only Major League action to date. (Getty)

SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Mason Tobin joined the competition for what’s expected to be one, and only one, vacancy in the Giants’ bullpen, signing a Minor League contract with an invitation to big league Spring Training.

Tobin has not pitched since April 2011 with the Texas Rangers. Receiving his first Major League action, he recorded a 6.75 ERA in four appearances before injuring his throwing elbow. Tobin then underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time.Tobin’s agent, Steve Canter, said Friday that the 25-year-old impressed Giants scouts during a workout earlier this month in Scottsdale, Ariz.Except for that brief Major League stint, Tobin hasn’t pitched above Class A. Formerly a starter, he went 6-4 with a 2.43 ERA in 25 outings (21 starts) in the Angels and Rangers organizations from 2007-09.The Giants’ other offseason acquisitions expected to contend for the relief role formerly held by Guillermo Mota include Scott Proctor, Fabio Castillo and Sandy Rosario. Holdovers and rookies also in the mix include Jake Dunning, Jean Machi and Dan Otero.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.