Mulholland among D-Backs' invitees
02/03/2006
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks have invited 15 non-roster players to Spring Training, and if history is any indication, at least one will be on Arizona's Opening Day roster.
The club has received contributions over the years from non-roster players like outfielder Quinton McCracken and infielder Carlos Baerga, and it last year got a sneak peek at first baseman Conor Jackson, who was added to the roster and called up to the big leagues in July.
There are seven non-roster pitchers coming to camp, including lefties Randy Choate, Terry Mulholland, Bill Murphy and Neal Musser and right-handers Casey Daigle, Kevin Jarvis and Mike Koplove.
Mulholland, 42, looks like a good bet to make the club, as Arizona does not have a lefty in its bullpen. The veteran was 0-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 49 relief appearances last year, and he's valuable for his rubber arm and clubhouse leadership.
"Terry's a great influence to have in the clubhouse," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "He'll take the ball anytime, and he's not scared out there. I'm excited about having him."
Mulholland came to the big leagues as a starter and has made 332 career starts. In 2004, he started 15 games and relieved in 24 for the Twins.
"He can give us a few starts if necessary, and [he] can get left-handers out," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "Plus, he comes with a reputation for being a tremendous teammate and a leader."
Choate could also factor into the equation as a left-handed specialist. He was signed to a two-year contract prior to last season, but he struggled, posting a 9.00 ERA in eight games at the beginning of last season before being removed from the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A, where he had a 3.38 ERA in 47 appearances.
Koplove is in a similar situation to Choate, in that he was signed to a two-year deal before last season. He had a good deal of success from 2002-04 at the big-league level, but he couldn't find his groove last year, ultimately being removed from the roster late in the season.
"[Koplove] and Choate have both had some success," Byrnes said. "Hopefully, they'll be able to get it back."
Daigle is looking to get back to the big leagues, this time in a different role. The 24-year-old made the team out of Spring Training as a starter in 2004, but after struggling in 10 starts, he was sent to Triple-A, where his troubles continued. Last year, Daigle became a closer and had success in Double-A and during the Arizona Fall League.
Of the eight position players receiving invites, shortstop Justin Upton is the most intriguing, but he has no shot at making the Opening Day roster. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Upton received an invite as part of the $6.1 million deal that he signed last month. It will be the first time that fans will get a glimpse of Upton, who is expected to begin the year with Class A South Bend.
This will be the second straight spring that outfielder Carlos Quentin has received an invite. Quentin was a first-round selection by the D-Backs in 2003, and he has excelled at every stop in the Minor Leagues.
Unfortunately for Quentin, though, unless something changes drastically, he will begin the 2006 season with Triple-A Tucson, where he hit .301 with 28 doubles, 21 homers and 89 RBIs last year.
"He's a tremendous prospect," Byrnes said. "He's accomplished about all you can in the Minors, and now, it's just about finding a place for him."
That will be tough to do with veterans Luis Gonzalez and Shawn Green expected to manage the corner outfield positions in 2006.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks have invited 15 non-roster players to Spring Training, and if history is any indication, at least one will be on Arizona's Opening Day roster.
The club has received contributions over the years from non-roster players like outfielder Quinton McCracken and infielder Carlos Baerga, and it last year got a sneak peek at first baseman Conor Jackson, who was added to the roster and called up to the big leagues in July.
There are seven non-roster pitchers coming to camp, including lefties Randy Choate, Terry Mulholland, Bill Murphy and Neal Musser and right-handers Casey Daigle, Kevin Jarvis and Mike Koplove.
Mulholland, 42, looks like a good bet to make the club, as Arizona does not have a lefty in its bullpen. The veteran was 0-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 49 relief appearances last year, and he's valuable for his rubber arm and clubhouse leadership.
"Terry's a great influence to have in the clubhouse," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "He'll take the ball anytime, and he's not scared out there. I'm excited about having him."
Mulholland came to the big leagues as a starter and has made 332 career starts. In 2004, he started 15 games and relieved in 24 for the Twins.
"He can give us a few starts if necessary, and [he] can get left-handers out," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "Plus, he comes with a reputation for being a tremendous teammate and a leader."
Choate could also factor into the equation as a left-handed specialist. He was signed to a two-year contract prior to last season, but he struggled, posting a 9.00 ERA in eight games at the beginning of last season before being removed from the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A, where he had a 3.38 ERA in 47 appearances.
Koplove is in a similar situation to Choate, in that he was signed to a two-year deal before last season. He had a good deal of success from 2002-04 at the big-league level, but he couldn't find his groove last year, ultimately being removed from the roster late in the season.
"[Koplove] and Choate have both had some success," Byrnes said. "Hopefully, they'll be able to get it back."
Daigle is looking to get back to the big leagues, this time in a different role. The 24-year-old made the team out of Spring Training as a starter in 2004, but after struggling in 10 starts, he was sent to Triple-A, where his troubles continued. Last year, Daigle became a closer and had success in Double-A and during the Arizona Fall League.
Of the eight position players receiving invites, shortstop Justin Upton is the most intriguing, but he has no shot at making the Opening Day roster. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Upton received an invite as part of the $6.1 million deal that he signed last month. It will be the first time that fans will get a glimpse of Upton, who is expected to begin the year with Class A South Bend.
This will be the second straight spring that outfielder Carlos Quentin has received an invite. Quentin was a first-round selection by the D-Backs in 2003, and he has excelled at every stop in the Minor Leagues.
Unfortunately for Quentin, though, unless something changes drastically, he will begin the 2006 season with Triple-A Tucson, where he hit .301 with 28 doubles, 21 homers and 89 RBIs last year.
"He's a tremendous prospect," Byrnes said. "He's accomplished about all you can in the Minors, and now, it's just about finding a place for him."
That will be tough to do with veterans Luis Gonzalez and Shawn Green expected to manage the corner outfield positions in 2006.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home