San Francisco Giants: A look at the 2018 Non Roster Invites

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 31: Alen Hanson #39 of the Chicago White waits after getting called out after stealing second base against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning during of their baseball game on August 31, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 31: Alen Hanson #39 of the Chicago White waits after getting called out after stealing second base against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning during of their baseball game on August 31, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 31: Alen Hanson #39 of the Chicago White waits after getting called out after stealing second base against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning during of their baseball game on August 31, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 31: Alen Hanson #39 of the Chicago White waits after getting called out after stealing second base against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning during of their baseball game on August 31, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco Giants have a very evident group of guys at the top of the list for 2018. But there are some fringe spots available.

Last spring a few of the San Francsico Giants non-roster invites ended up making the club at one point or another. None stuck at the big league level, but a few guys made a good impact at the minor league level. Slade Heathcott is one that initially comes to mind.

Over the last few years guys have come up and done something surprising. Whether it was Brandon Hicks a few years ago, Mark Minicozzi, and last year’s lottery winners, Chris Marrero, Aaron Hill, and Neil Hernandez. Of course, last year’s group had a few high points among some low points.

Marrero hit his first homer, but was pretty much terrible. Hernandez either struck everyone out or gave up a ton of runs, and Hill was apparently an option to be the leadoff hitter, which angered me to no end. But there aren’t as many “well known” names on this year’s list.

I’ve decided to go by position grouping for this. Each slide will take a look at the invitees at each position grouping, their careers and whether or not they have a serious shot at playing a role in 2018.

So who is on the NRI list? And what could they possibly bring to the table?