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The Houston Astros and general manager Jeff Luhnow announced 18 non-roster players have been invited to Major League Spring Training, including eight pitchers, three catchers, three infielders and four outfielders.
The #Astros have signed three minor league free agents and have invited 18 non-roster players to Major League Spring Training: pic.twitter.com/iLpyg9QK7h
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 13, 2017
The 18 invitees include three minor leauge free agents: IF Reid Brignac, C Juan Centeno, and LHP C.J. Riefenhauser.
The other 15 return from the Astros farm system: IF J.D. Davis, OF Derek Fisher, RHP Edison Frias, OF Alejandro Garcia, C Tyler Heineman, LHP Brian Holmes, RHP Jordan Jankowski, OF Jon Kemmer, OF Ramon Laureano, RHP Francis Martes, RHP Tyson Perez, IF Jon Singleton, RHP Cy Sneed, C Garrett Stubbs and RHP Aaron West.
Davis, Fisher, Heineman, Jankowski, and Kemmer return from 2016 group of invitees and Singleton was dropped from the 40-man roster the offseason.
Non-roster players invitees made a major impact on the field for the Astros in 2016. In total nine players saw action with the team: IF Alex Bregman, RHP Jake Buchanan, RHP Chris Devenski, RHP James Hoyt, IF Tony Kemp, IF Colin Moran, IF A.J. Reed, RHP Brady Rodgers, and IF Tyler White.