Interesting non-roster invitees

Each years during Spring Training, major league teams will invite a host of usually unheralded, journeymen players to camp and give them the opportunity to win a job on the big-league squad.

These are usually grizzled AAA veterans that might spawn images of characters from the film, Major League, or perhaps more realistically, a small snapshot of of the infamous “replacement player” spring training of 1995.

There will also be a caravan of young, upcoming prospects brought in for their first taste of camp, and a token slate of catchers who will gruel through endless bullpen sessions, never to be heard from again once the calender strikes April.

There will also be, however, diamonds in the rough that will excite the nerdiest of baseball fans. Although 2012 was a bust, the Twins got heavy use out of its non-roster players, primarily Jared Burton, but also Casey Fien, Jeff Gray, Sam Deduno and PJ Walters.

So far, the 2013 slate is certainly highlighted by Rich Harden, who is a non-roster player simply due to his dreadful series of injuries over the past several years. Several other interesting, and more traditional non-roster players who are new to the Twins organization include:

Bryan Augenstein, RHP

Augenstein, 26, was once a fast-track starting pitching prospect for Arizona, but has fallen off the charts since 2009. Converted to a reliever, he had a respectable 3.59 ERA in 42 innings last season for AAA Durham. Augenstain is legitimate competition for Tim Wood, Josh Roenicke, Anthony Slama, Luis Perdomo, Ryan Pressly and others trying to grab the last open spot as a right-handed middle reliever in the Twins bullpen.

Most likely he will provide depth at AAA, either as a starter or reliever.

Brandon Boggs, OF

The Twins lost a lot of veteran depth by trading Denard Span and Ben Revere, and while Boggs is not regarded as an everyday player, he can play good defense at all outfield positions and could be a valuable bench player.

Boggs, 30, is a switch-hitter who battled .259 with nine home runs and 57 runs battled in in 409 AAA at-bats last season. Over 326 major league at-bats, he has hit .209 with 10 home runs and 113 strikouts. He will complete for a backup role with Wilkin Ramirez, 27, and Clete Thomas, 29, all veteran outfielders who have struggled with strikeouts over their careers. Brian Dinkelman, 29, is also a popular player and versatile defender who has played three full seasons in AAA Rochester.

Jeff Clement, 1B/DH

Clement, 29, is a former Little League World Series hero who was drafted by the Twins out of high school but never signed. He was later the #3 overall pick by Seattle in 2005, but his big-league opportunities have been limited despite decent minor league numbers. In only 385 major league at-bats, he’s hit .218 but with a respectable 14 home runs.

Clement, a lefthanded hitter, holds a career .282 average with a .493 slugging percentage and 92 home runs over 2204 minor league at-bats, mostly in AAA (one homer per 24 at-bats.) Although drafted as a catcher, he has had knee issues and primarily played first base since 2009.

The Twins need some serious offense off the bench, as their currant infield is filled with light-hitting utility players. He would also provide needed veteran depth for Justin Morneau, with Chris Parmalee expected to play right field full-time.

Chris Colabello, 1B

Last year the Twins were desperate for minor league depth and offense at first base, and signed the then 28-year-old Colabello, who had played seven seasons in the independent Can-Am league without being drafted or signed.

Colabello played in AA New Brittain for all of 2012, hitting .284 with 19 home runs and 98 RBI, setting a team RBI record. Colabello is regarded as an outstanding defensive first baseman, and impressed management with his attitude and dependability. 

The righthanded first baseman will likely start the year in AAA, but is already regarded as one of the best baseball stories in some time.

Shairon Martis, RHP

Martis, 25, was rushed to the majors by the Nationals several years ago, and became a forgotten man after posting a 5.33 ERA in 106.1 innings combined during 2008 and 2009. Since then, he has spent three seasons trying to regain his form in AA and AAA, but is still young and talented enough to warrant some interest.

Martis will be lumped together with Esmerling Vasquez, PJ Walters, Sam Deduno and Nick Blackburn as veteran righthanded starting pitchers on the fringe between AAA and the majors. His relative youth somewhat seperates him from the pack, but his abused development track push him out of “young prospect” status.

Ray Olmedo, 3B/IF

The 31-year-old Olmedo began his AAA career way back in 2003, and is still scratching away for a real shot in the Show. With a career .264 average and 32 home runs in 4739 minor league at-bats, he won’t exactly give Trevor Plouffe a run for his money at third base, but is a versatile switch-hitter and professional player who wouldn’t embarrass the team as a utility player. To be playing for this long at that level, he is bound to have some heart.

Last year while with the White Sox for a brief stint, he batted .244 in 41 at-bats, but was noted as a positive team player, even volunteering to catch or warm up pitchers if needed.

"Sometimes practicing different positions is good for you," Oldedo was quoted. "I'm ready for everything, all the time.”

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Although they weren’t invited to the major league camp, pitchers Scott Elarton, 36, and Jason Lane, 35, were signed to minor league deals and prove that the Twins are willing to look anywhere for pitching. Elarton is a 6’8” tall former first round draft pick who has a 5.29 ERA over ten major league seasons, but hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008. Lane is a former outfielder who hit ,241 with 61 home runs in 1208 major league at-bats between 2002-2007. Making his comback as a pitcher, Lane posted a 3.17 ERA in 110.2 innings last season in the independent Atlantic League. It was his first full season as a pitcher since college, where he pitched in the 2008 College World Series.