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Detroit Tigers: Breaking Down All 22 Non-Roster Invitees

By Ben Rosener

Feb 21, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) and teammates pitch in the bullpen at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) and teammates pitch in the bullpen at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers
May 10, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (14) hits a sacrifice fly to score left fielder Alex Gordon (not pictured) in the tenth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Kansas City won 2-1 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Infielders

Dominic Ficociello
Age: 24
Positions: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Left Field
Hits: Switch

Utility player prospects aren’t too common, but the Detroit Tigers have one in Dominic Ficociello.

A former 12th-round pick, the 24-year-old can play in both the infield and the outfield. He recently saw action in 123 games for Double-A Erie during the 2016 campaign.

Over the course of those contests, the utility player collected 105 hits, 53 runs scored, 38 RBI, 21 doubles, five home runs, five RBI, three triples and a 90 wRC+.

Omar Infante
Age: 35
Positions: Second Base and Third Base
Hits: Right-Handed
Career WAR: 14.3

Perhaps the most notable of the non-roster invitees due to his familiarity, Omar Infante could be a bench candidate for the Tigers.

The 15-year veteran enjoyed some of his finest Major League seasons in a Detroit uniform. In fact, each of Detroit’s World Series rosters this century have featured Infante.

Since leaving the Tigers as a free agent following the 2013 season, Infante hit just .238 with a .269 on-base percentage in 298 games with Kansas City.

That same span failed to yield a wRC+ north of 75 for the longtime second baseman.

Detroit will likely be hoping for a return to the form that Infante showed in his previous stint in the Motor City.

The 35-year-old turned in a 3.1 WAR to go along with a 118 wRC+ in 2013. The 2013 campaign also included a .318 batting average, a .795 OPS, 51 RBI, 37 extra-base hits and five stolen bases for Infante.

Brendan Ryan
Age: 34
Positions: Shortstop, Second Base and Third Base
Hits: Right-Handed
Career WAR: 8.3

Similar to Jose Iglesias and Dixon Machado, Brendan Ryan is an excellent glove-first shortstop.

Over the course of his career, the former Cardinal owns a 50.7 UZR and a UZR/150 at shortstop.

A .256 hitter in his first five seasons, Ryan has struggled at the plate since.

In stints with Seattle, New York and Anaheim, the veteran is just a .194 hitter in 358 games since Opening Day 2012.

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