Twins offer 14 non-roster invitations

Twins offer 14 non-roster invitations
Maroth only organizational newcomer among list

By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

01/08/10 7:40 PM EST

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins announced their 2010 Spring Training non-roster invitees Wednesday, and a total of 14 players who are not on the Major League roster have been extended invitations.

Four pitchers, three catchers, three infielders and four outfielders have been invited to take part in Major League camp in Fort Myers, Fla. Here is a look at the list:

Brian Dinkelman, OF: Hit .296 with eight home runs and 65 RBIs for Double-A New Britain. He was an eighth-round pick of the Twins in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Jair Fernandez, C: Acquired from the Mariners in exchange for pitcher R.A. Dickey in March 2008. Fernandez batted .224 with 28 RBIs in 84 games for Class A Advanced Fort Myers in 2009.

Danny Lehmann, C: The 24-year-old batted .220 with 15 RBIs in 81 games for New Britain and Fort Myers in 2009.

Jose Lugo, LHP: Was returned to the Twins in March after being selected by Seattle in the Rule 5 Draft. Lugo went a combined 4-2 with a 4.16 ERA in 59 games for Triple-A Rochester and New Britain.

Mike Maroth, LHP: A veteran with five-plus years of experience with Detroit and St. Louis, Maroth has not pitched in the Majors since 2007. The lefty missed the entire '08 season following shoulder surgery and signed with Toronto last winter. But he was released by the Blue Jays organization after he did not make the team out of Spring Training. He holds a career 50-67 record with a 5.05 ERA in the Majors.

Brock Peterson, 1B: Hit .304 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 99 games for Rochester last season. The 26-year-old was a six-year Minor League free agent but re-signed with the Twins for the 2010 season.

Juan Portes, OF: Batted .297 with six home runs and 40 RBIs for New Britain in 2009.

Danny Rams, C: A second-round pick of the Twins in the 2007 Draft, Rams batted .264 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs in stints with Fort Myers, Class A Beloit and Rookie Elizabethton in 2009.

Ben Revere, OF: Has been named the Twins Minor League Player of the Year for the past two seasons. He hit .311 with 75 runs scored and 45 stolen bases in 121 games for Fort Myers in '09.

Steve Singleton, INF: Took part in the Arizona Fall League after batting a combined .277 with 57 RBIs for Fort Myers and New Britain.

Anthony Slama, RHP: The 2008 Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.67 ERA and recorded 29 saves in stints with New Britain and Rochester.

Rene Tosoni, OF: Tosoni was named the MVP of the 2009 Futures Game during the All-Star Game festivities in St. Louis. The outfielder batted .271 with 15 homers and 71 RBIs at New Britain in 2009.

Kyle Waldrop, RHP: A first-round pick of the Twins in the 2004 Draft, Waldrop has been plagued by injuries. But after being promoted to New Britain last year, Waldrop went 2-3 with a 1.46 ERA in 31 relief appearances.

The Twins will kick off Spring Training in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 21, when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report. The first workout will take place Feb. 22, with the first full-squad workout occurring Feb. 27.

Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.