Young arms among Rockies' camp invites

DENVER -- Two fast-rising pitching prospects, right-hander Ryan Castellani and lefty Sam Howard, will make their first appearances in Major League camp this spring for the Rockies, who announced their non-roster invitees on Thursday.
The group includes veterans Chris Denorfia, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and Mark Reynolds, who was the Rockies' primary first baseman last year.
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In all, the Rockies invited 22 players, including nine pitchers, to bring the total number to 62. Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout on Feb. 14, and the initial full-squad workout is Feb. 20.
Castellani, who turns 21 on April 1, is a 2014 second-round pick out of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. He went 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 167 2/3 innings last season at Class A Advanced Modesto against older competition in the California League.
Howard, who turns 24 on March 5, was drafted a round after Castellani out of Georgia Southern. Howard went 9-9 with a 3.35 ERA, and fanned 140 in 156 innings.
In the latest ranking of top 30 Rockies prospects by MLBPipeline.com, Castellani was No. 12 and Howard was 20th.
While non-roster invitations give the Rockies a chance to look at highly touted prospects before the Minor League season, this group also includes players who could help the big squad beginning on Opening Day -- especially pitchers.
Lefty Kyle Freeland, the No. 8 overall pick in 2014, is considered a prime prospect for a spot in the Major League rotation. He was ranked as the Rockies' 7th-best prospect.
It will be Freeland's second Major League camp. A Denver native, Freeland appeared in two games (one start) last spring and posted a 3.52 ERA with four strikeouts and nine hits allowed in 7 2/3 innings before spending the season with Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque (11-10, 3.89 ERA, 108 strikeouts in 162 innings).
Three others who could be close to their Major League debuts are making second camp appearances:
• Left-handed-hitting corner-infield prospect Ryan McMahon, 22, hit .242 with 12 home runs and 75 RBIs at Hartford and appeared in the Arizona Fall League.
• Lefty starter Harrison Musgrave was in big league camp last year, and spent the year at Hartford and Albuquerque (combined 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 25 starts)
• Lefty-hitting outfielder Michael Tauchman hit .286 last year at Albuquerque in his first Triple-A season.
Righty reliever James Farris, obtained from the Cubs on Wednesday for right-hander Eddie Butler, also received an invite.
First baseman outfielder Stephen Cardullo and infielder/outfielder Rafael Ynoa will be in camp this year after making Major League appearances last year.