Baltimore Orioles Non-Roster Invitee Cheat Sheet

Sep 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Paul Janish (15) throws to second base during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday a list of 17 players to receive invitations to spring training.

More names can be added at any time, but this is probably a fairly complete list. Pitchers and catchers begin on the 18^th, with the others reporting on the 24^th.

Whereas most of the names on the list are somewhat familiar, if you are like me, you might need a few reminders of the backgrounds and circumstances of a few of the more remote names.

So, as much as for my own reference as for yours, let’s put together a list of the 17 names with a brief summary of each. Actually, those who are the most familiar will have less written about them. But hopefully this can serve all of us as a reminder of “who’s on first, no he’s on second” when the Orioles begin spring training road trips with few veterans.

PITCHERS

Pedro Beato – He has pitched 94 career innings in 83 games for the Mets, Red Sox and Braves, but has never stuck in the majors. With Norfolk in 2015, the 6’6” Dominican had a 2.65 ERA in 63 games and 74.1 innings.

Jeff Beliveau (L) – Age 29, he has played in 58 career games between the Cubs and Rays. He was an 18^th-round draft pick by Chicago in 2008. Before undergoing early-season surgery in 2015 to repair a torn labrum, Beliveau appeared in five games for Tampa Bay, giving up four runs on six hits in 2.2 innings.

Cesar Cabral (L) – He appeared in two games with the Orioles last year, pitching one inning. With the Yankees in two seasons before that, he made 12 total appearances. Cabral was 2-1 at Norfolk in 2015, throwing 40 innings with a 4.95 ERA.

Hunter Harvey – The first round, 22^nd overall pick of the Orioles in 2013, he has only pitched a total of 113 innings in the minors due to injuries.

Andy Oliver (L) – Age 28, he was a second-round pick of the Tigers in 2009. Oliver’s seven big league games were all starts for the Tigers in 2011-12. Now a reliever, he has a 4.12 career ERA at the AAA level, including 3.72 in 16 games and 29 innings for the Tides last year.

Todd Redmond – Soon to be age 31, Redmond is familiar to us from his 66 games with the Blue Jays over the past three years, with a career ERA of 4.25. His AAA ERA in 2015 was 4.00.

Ashur Tolliver (L) – Age 28, he was the fifth-round pick of the Orioles in 2009. He had a 2.91 ERA at AA Bowie last year, in 39 games and 59 innings.

CATCHERS

Jonah Heim – Only age 20, he was the 4^th-round pick of the Orioles in 2013. He hit .248 at DelMarVa in 2015. The Orioles need catchers in camp.

Audry Perez – Originally with the Cardinals where he made two MLB plate appearances, Perez hit .243 in 78 games for Norfolk in 2015.

Chance Sisco – Well-known to us, Sisco was the 2^nd-round pick of the O’s in 2013. His career average in the system is .326.

INFIELDERS

Paul Janish – The veteran defensive specialist had a good season in 2015 with the Tides and Orioles, hitting .286 in 14 MLB games. That is 70 points above his career average.

Trey Mancini – Well-documented as the Orioles minor league player of the year in 2015.

Osvaldo Martinez – Ozzie was re-signed after a good 2015 campaign in Bowie. There he hit .252 in 122 games, while displaying very good defense at shortstop. The 25-year-old was an 11^th-round pick of the Marlins nine years ago, making it to the Big Leagues with them for a total of 34 games in 2010 and 2011. There he hit .258, about the same as his career minor league average of .257.

Steven Tolleson – Back with the Orioles for the second time in his career, fans will remember a brief stay with the Birds in 2012, where he batted .183 in 29 games. A former 5^th-round selection of the Twins a decade ago, he has also made it to the big show in 2010 with the A’s and over the past two years with the Jays. In Toronto, Tolleson did hit .256 over 128 games. His AAA numbers would seem to indicate that he should have at least some moderate success at the highest level, posting a .283 average and .366 OBP.

OUTFIELDERS

Xavier Avery – Former Oriole, age 26. After hitting .259 for Bowie in 2011, he split the 2012 season between Norfolk and Baltimore. For 102 games at AAA he batted .236. With the Orioles from mid-May to mid-July and then as a September call-up, he played in 32 games for the O’s, batting .223 in 107 at-bats. Avery has never made it back to a MLB field. He was traded to the Mariners in 2013 for Michael Morris, and since then he has played at the AAA level for four franchises: Seattle, Minnesota, Detroit and San Francisco. His total combined stats during this time include hitting .282 in 247 games, with a .344 OBP. He also had 51 stolen bases in 72 attempts.