Julio Urias, Corey Seager, Chris Anderson among Dodgers non-roster invitees to spring training

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Friday officially announced their list of 17 non-roster invitees to big league camp at spring training at Camelback Ranch, headlined by prospects Julio Urias, Corey Seager and Chris Anderson.

Seager and Urias were rated the top two prospects in the Dodgers' system by Baseball Prospectus earlier this week. Seager was an expected addition, having ended his season at Double-A. The shortstop will turn 21 in April. But Urias is just 18, and hasn't pitched higher than advanced Class-A. But then again, Urias is no ordinary prospect, and getting him regular instruction from major league coaches and the experience of a big league clubhouse will also help his development.

In spring training last year, Seager appeared in four big league games from the minor league side and went 2-for-7 with a walk. Urias pitched in one game and hurled a perfect inning, striking out two.

By comparison Joc Pederson, who is now on the 40-man roster, was a non-roster invitee in 2014, about to turn 22 and invited after a full season in Double-A.

Chris Anderson, the right-handed pitcher drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2013, will also be a non-roster invitee. The 22-year old was 7-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 27 games, including 25 starts for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2014, with 146 strikeouts and 63 walks in 134⅓ innings.

We already covered the signings of non-roster invitees Sergio Santos, catcher Ali Solis, infielder Buck Britton, outfielder Kyle Jensen, outfielder Matt Carson, and infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena.

Left-handed pitcher David Huff, 30, stands out among the pitchers. He was 4-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 59 innings split between the Giants and Yankees in 2014, with 39 strikeouts and 23 walks.

Josh Ravin and Robert Carson were in the Dodgers' system in 2014 as well, both pitching for both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque.

Ryan Buchter, who turns 28 in February, was 3-3 with a 3.29 ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves system in 2014, with 63 strikeouts and 40 walks in 63 innings. The left-hander made his major league debut with the Braves in September, pitching one scoreless inning in one game, walking one, striking out one, and picked up the win.

The remainder of the position players all played in the Dodgers' minor league system in 2014, led by utility man Darnell Sweeney, along with Double-A Chattanooga teammates first baseman O`Koyea Dickson and catcher Chris O`Brien. In addition catcher Shawn Zarraga, acquired from the Brewers on Dec. 18, will be in big league camp as well.

Here is the full list of Dodgers non-roster invitees to date:

• Right-handed pitchers (3): Chris Anderson, Josh Ravin, Sergio Santos
• Left-handed pitchers (4): Ryan Buchter, Robert Carson, David Huff, Julio Urias
• Catchers (3): Chris O'Brien, Ali Solis, Shawn Zarraga
• Infielders (5): Erisbel Arruebarrena, Buck Britton, O'Koyea Dickson, Corey Seager, Darnell Sweeney
• Outfielders (2): Matt Carson, Kyle Jensen

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In other news on Friday, catcher Pratt Maynard, drafted by the Dodgers in the third round in 2011, announced his retirement from baseball. Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has more details. Battling back injuries that limited him to just 49 games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2014, Maynard hit .282/.347/.437 with 19 doubles and two home runs. Maynard turned 25 in November.