Dodgers Again Focus on Youth in This Year’s Non-Roster Invitee Group

Last January, the Dodgers released their youth tinged non-roster invitee list for Spring Training, and this year looks to be a similar group of invitees.

On Friday, the Dodgers announced their 2015 list of non-roster invites for Spring Training which is as follows:

Pitchers:

1. RHP Chris Anderson
2. RHP Josh Ravin
3. RHP Sergio Santos
4. LHP Ryan Buchter
5. LHP Robert Carson
6. LHP David Huff
7. LHP Julio Urias

Position Players:

1. INF Erisbel Arruebarrena
2. INF Buck Britton
3. INF Corey Seager
4. INF Darnell Sweeney
5. INF O’Koyea Dickson
6. OF Matt Carson
7. OF Kyle Jensen
8. C Chris O’Brien
9. C Ali Solis
10. C Shawn Zarraga

The group once again reflects the organization’s focus on youth with young prospects Corey Seager and 18-year old Julio Urias headlining the invite bunch. The mostly youthful group of players coincides with the Dodgers’ desire to go younger and to focus on the farm system and the development of homegrown players. While I don’t expect Julio Urias or Corey Seager to break camp with the Dodgers after Spring Training concludes, it gives the front office an opportunity to gauge their development process and for them to gain more experience facing Major League pitching and hitters during Cactus League play. The young players will also get the chance to work with the big league coaching staff which will be invaluable training.

Seager and Urias both appeared briefly in the Cactus League last Spring, and I had the opportunity to watch Urias’s Cactus League debut where he pitched a perfect inning while striking out two. I was pretty floored by seeing him pitch in person, and be sure to check out my video footage of his special moment at Camelback Ranch.

David Huff, a left-handed pitcher, also received a non-roster invited by the Dodgers for Spring Training. Huff is 30-years old and hails from Huntington Beach, California. He’s pitched in 6 big league seasons, and last year spent time with the Giants and the Yankees. He had a combined 4-1 record with a 3.36 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 23 walks over 46 games.

Ryan Buchter, another lefty, made his MLB debut with the Braves last year pitching in one game and garnering his first big league win while walking one batter and striking out one.

Most of the other non-roster invites are from within the Dodgers’ farm system with the exceptions of the signings of catchers Ali Solis, infielder Buck Britton, outfielder Kyle Jensen and Matt Carson as well as pitcher Sergio Santos.

Erisbel Arruebarrena, who showed up to Camelback Ranch last year, was signed last February as an amateur free agent for the Dodgers. He is signed through 2018 on a 5-year $25 million contract. The slick fielding shortstop will also be a non-roster invite after being designated for assignment, clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. It is still unclear whether the Dodgers will retain Arruebarrena for depth after signing shortstop Jimmy Rollins, or if they will be able to work out a trade with another team who would be responsible for the remainder of his salary.