Pirates Invite Four To Spring Training as Non-Roster Invitees

If you need another reminder that Spring Training is just a few weeks away, here you go: Today the Pittsburgh Pirates announced four non-roster invitees to Bradenton.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially announced that they will invite four players to Spring Training in Bradenton as non-roster invitees.

From the team’s official release, here they are:

Roberto Gomez (RHP) – Was a member of San Francisco’s Opening Day roster in 2018...Had two separate stints with the Giants last season...Has gone 31-36 with two saves, a 3.68 ERA (550.0ip/225er) and 386 strikeouts in 47 appearances (92 starts) during his minor league career.

Tyler Lyons (LHP) – Has gone 12-10 with three saves and a 4.09 ERA (268.1ip/122er) in 147 career appearances (20 starts) in the big leagues with St. Louis (2013-18)...Made 27 appearances with the RedBirds in 2018 before being optioned to Triple-A on 7/29...Went 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA and a career-high 68 strikeouts in 50 appearances with St. Louis in 2017.

Steven Baron (C) – Spent nearly the entire 2018 season with Triple-A Memphis...Also appeared in two games for St. Louis in 2018...Was originally selected by Seattle in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft (supplemental first round – 33rd overall).

Patrick Kivlehan (OF) –Hit a combined .298 with 29 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 113 games between Louisville and Las Vegas in 2018...Also appeared in nine games with Arizona last season...Attended spring training with Cincinnati in 2018...Has appeared in 132 games in the big leagues in parts of three seasons with San Diego (2016), Cincinnati (2016-17) and Arizona (2018).

Lyons is of course the big name here, and he stands as the lone name amongst this group that has a shot at breaking onto the club’s 25-man roster. The rest should be considered camp fodder at this point, though Gomez could be a bullpen depth option going forward.