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DETROIT — With exactly one month remaining until pitchers and catchers hold their first workout, Tuesday afternoon the Detroit Tigers announced they had invited 17 non-roster players to spring training. Among them are Joe Mantiply and Joel Hanrahan, and Jordan Lennerton, a potential backup for Miguel Cabrera should he not be recovered from ankle surgery in time for Opening Day.
Xavier Avery, Jefrey Marte, and Josh Wilson were three non-roster invitees that the Tigers recently acquired in minor league deals. Mantiply, who made a quiet impression during the 2014 Arizona Fall League, has his sights set on making the team out of spring training.
The Tigers built up a plethora of relievers during the offseason. One of the players invited is Luke Putkonen, who the team said is fully recovered from elbow surgery to remove a bone spur in 2014. If he were to make the team and remain healthy, Putkonen would be a solid addition to the bullpen.
One addition to the list that wasn't expected is Grayson Greiner, a 22-year-old catcher from Columbia, South Carolina who played for the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps in 2014. He was drafted in the third round by the Tigers during the 2014 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-6 righty hit .322/394/.444 in 26 games and had a 25 percent caught-stealing rate during that time.
The full list of non-roster invitees is listed below:
Right-handed pitchers: Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis, Joel Hanrahan, Tim Melville, Luke Putkonen
Left-handed pitchers: Omar Duran, Joe Mantiply
Catchers: Miguel Gonzalez, Austin Green, Grayson Greiner, Manny Pina
Infielders: Jordan Lennerton, Jefry Marte, Aaron Westlake, Josh Wilson
Outfielders: Xavier Avery, Jason Krizan
The following staff members will be in uniform for spring training. Manny Crespo, Bill Dancy, Joe DePastino, Leon "Bull" Durham, Bruce Fields, Scott Fletcher, Mike Henneman, Mike Maroth, Dave Owen, Lance Parrish, Larry Parrish, Gerald Perry, Brian Peterson, Gene Roof and A.J. Sager.
Additionally, special assistants to Tigers President and GM Dave Dombrowski, Willie Horton, Al Kaline and Alan Trammell, will be in uniform this year. Corey Tremble, Chris McDonald and T.J. Saunders will assist the major league training staff, while Steve Chase and Fred Murphy will work with Tigers strength-and-conditioning coordinators Chris Walter and Kyle Bergman.