Owens headlines Red Sox's non-roster invitees
Boston's top prospect to be joined by fellow lefty Johnson, Marrero, Spring
BOSTON -- Highly-touted lefty Henry Owens headlines a list of players the Red Sox will bring to camp as non-roster invitees, it was announced Friday.
Owens is ranked by MLB.com as the top prospect in Boston's farm system.
In 20 starts for Double-A Portland last season, Owens went 14-4 with a 2.60 ERA. He didn't fare quite as well after a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket, going 3-1 with a 4.03 ERA in six starts.
This will be the second straight season Owens will go to Major League camp.
Brian Johnson, another lefty starter the club is excited about, will join Owens in camp. After opening the 2014 season at Class A Salem, Johnson earned a promotion to Portland, where he dazzled, going 10-2 with a 1.75 ERA in 10 starts.
Shortstop Deven Marrero, considered an elite defender, will get an audition in camp as he continues to try to make the necessary improvements offensively. Marrero, an Arizona State product, was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
One feel-good story of Major League camp is the invitation of catcher Matt Spring, a 30-year-old who has spent the last 11 seasons in the Minor Leagues. This is Spring's fifth season in the Red Sox organization. He split last season between Portland and Pawtucket.
Other invitees include righty relievers Dalier Hinojosa and Noe Ramirez, righty starter Keith Couch and utility infielder Jemile Weeks.