SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The release of the non-roster invitee list usually comes well before spring training, and it's a bigger deal for the Giants than for most. They have a long history of unearthing big-time contributors on minor league deals, and that has continued under Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris.
Donovan Solano was an NRI in Zaidi's first year in charge and last year's group included Dom Leone, who became a valued setup man, and Sammy Long, who is now one of the organization's better young pitchers.
The NRI list also traditionally includes top prospects, although this season is a bit different. With minor-league camp having started before the lockout ended, the Giants are leaving most of their best young players over at Papago Park. The exception came with the catchers, because you always need extra guys to catch bullpen sessions early in camp.
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This year's group was announced Monday, and you can expect a few of these guys to become more familiar names over the next six months.
Here's an early look at the group:
Pitchers
A lot of these guys threw during the first live BP session on Tuesday, and Mauricio Llovera in particular seemed to open some eyes. Joey Bart nodded in approval as he watched a couple of pitches land on the edge of the strike zone, and manager Gabe Kapler walked up to Llovera after his mound session and made a point of passing along how much he impressed the big leaguers who faced him.
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Llovera, 25, has seven big league appearances with the Phillies although all came after Kapler was gone.
Corey Oswalt has 14 career big league starts with the Mets, and given how many starters the Giants expect to use, anyone with that kind of experience should be watched. Sam Delaplane is a local who was snagged last year while recovering from Tommy John. He's one of many the Giants have snuck into their system when they had an open spot for a few hours.
Catchers
Patrick Bailey, a former first-round pick, has now spent two springs with the big league club as well as time at the alternate site. He struggled last year in Eugene but was much better when he rejoined Low-A San Jose late in the year, posting a .322/.416/.531 slash line. Bailey had a lower back injury that limited him during the summer but he's fully healthy now.
"It was huge," he said of the time in San Jose. "Finishing up strong there and then having a good Fall League, I feel like I'm in a really good place to start the year."
It seems like Ricardo Genoves has been in big league camp for half a decade, but he's still just 22 and a lot of Giants people adore him. He should start the year in Double-A, and given his experience with the staff, he could be an option late in the year if the Giants need catching help.
Jhonny Pereda was in Triple-A last year with the Red Sox and adds depth, along with the recently acquired Jose Godoy.
Brett Auerbach is one of the more interesting players in the organization. He hit 17 homers, stole 30 bases and posted a .379 OBP last year, and he plays every position defensively but first and short. On Tuesday, Auerbach did infield drills in the morning and then caught during live BP. Sounds like exactly the type of player this staff would love.
"He's super fun," Kapler said. "On the minor league side, he's done great work."
Infielders/outfielders
Blandino is as local as it gets, first starring at St. Francis in Mountain View and then Stanford. After years with the Reds, he's back home. Blandino has a great eye at the plate and can move all around the field, so yes, he had to be a Giant.
Krizan was an NRI last year and seemed like a solid bet to break through at some point as a left-handed hitter who can play multiple spots. He had a .316/.367/.492 slash line in Sacramento and the Giants are thrilled to have him back.
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"Kriz can really swing the bat," Kapler said. "The bat-to-ball skills are excellent, the plate discipline is excellent. One of the things I love about Jason is he will talk s*** through his at-bats. It's not directed at the pitcher or anything like that, but there are coaches behind the screen and he's up there taking a live at-bat and he's talking his way through the at-bat. He's like, 'This is what's coming next, I'm going to be ready for it.'
"He's getting off a really good pass (at the ball). He's a super confident hitter and we really believe in his ability to contribute. We're going to keep a close eye on him this spring."