Highly touted first base prospect Matt Olson is among 21 non-roster invitees to A’s major league spring camp, the club announced Friday.
Olson, whose 37 homers last season for Single-A Stockton ranked third in all of the minors, is rated as Oakland’s No. 1 prospect by mlb.com and No. 2 by Baseball America.
[STIGLICH: Profile rising for A's first base prospect Matt Olson]
Another non-roster invitee who will turn heads in camp is Patrick Venditte, a “switch pitcher” who was signed to a minor league contract in November. Venditte, 29, wears an ambidextrous glove and can pitch with both hands, deciding which side to throw from based on whether the hitter is left- or right-handed. A 20th-round draft pick of the Yankees in 2008, Venditte went 17-22 with a 2.46 ERA over seven seasons in New York’s farm system. All but eight of his 242 appearances have come in relief.
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Lefty Brad Mills, who made three starts for the A’s last season before being designated for assignment, is also a non-roster invitee and could insert himself in the battle for a rotation spot. Also getting a look will be second baseman Joey Wendle, acquired from Cleveland in December for Brandon Moss.
A’s pitchers and catchers report Feb. 19 with their first workout Feb. 20. Position players report Feb. 24 with the first full-squad workout Feb. 25.
The team’s annual FanFest takes place Sunday at Oracle Arena from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at athletics.com.