Mets Choose Non-Roster Players Who’ll Take Part in Spring Training

The New York Mets have invited six non-roster players, including four minor-league pitchers, to spring training in February.

The six will join the 38 players on the major-league roster, bringing the number of players reporting to camp at St. Petersburg, Fla., to 44, a club spokesman said.

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 20 and hold their first workout the next day. The rest of the squad is expected on Feb. 26.

The minor leaguers invited include right-hand pitchers Tom Burns, Terry Leach and Tom McCarthy of Tidewater of the International League (AAA), left-hander Bob Buchanan of Denver of American Association (AAA), catcher Greg Olson and infielder Al Pedrique of Tidewater.

Buchanan and McCarthy both had their seasons cut short by surgery in 1986. Buchanan was 3-7 with a 5.83 ERA in 36 games, and McCarthy was 3-2 with a 4.04 ERA. Leach was 4-4 with a 2.49 ERA and had seven saves for Tidewater and also made six relief appearances for the Mets at the end of the season. He had no decisions while up the parent club but posted a 2.70 ERA. Burns was 3-4 with a 2.80 ERA and 11 saves for Tidewater.

Olson hit .327 in 19 games for Tidewater and .199 in 64 games at Jackson of Texas League. Pedrique hit .293 for Tidewater with 40 RBI.

The Mets also announced they named Rob Guzik to their scouting staff.