Yankees Announce Spring Training Invites

The New York Yankees have announced that they have extended an invitation to Major League Spring Training to 27 players, and among those invited by are eight former Charleston RiverDogs.

Four members of the 2011 RiverDogs squad were invited in catchers Gary Sanchez, J.R. Murphy and Kyle Higashioka, as well as right-handed pitcher Danny Burawa. RiverDogs from the 2010 campaign include right-handed pitchers Graham Stoneburner and Brett Marshall. Rounding out the eight former RiverDogs who will join the Yankees in Tampa are left-handed pitcher Manuel Banuelos from the 2009 team, and catcher Jose Gil, who spent parts of 2006 and '07 in Charleston.

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training on February 19, and position players are due in Tampa on Feb. 24. The Yankees first spring training contest is slated for March 2 against the University of South Florida at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.