Maybin invited to Major League camp
Young outfielder will get experience with big-league staff

Cameron Maybin played in a few big-league games last Spring Training. This time, though, he's going to be around for a while.

The Tigers have decided to extend to Maybin an invitation to Major League camp, giving Detroit's top prospect and the former first-round pick a chance to train, work out and play alongside Detroit's veterans while allowing him to take instruction from big-league coaches.

Maybin, drafted 10th overall in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, already was regarded as Detroit's top position player prospect going into last year's camp before he played a game.

Once Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya were promoted to the Majors, Maybin rose to the top of Detroit's farm system overall with an impressive first pro season. Maybin batted .304 with nine home runs, 20 doubles and 69 RBIs in 101 games for Class A West Michigan. He also stole 27 bases in 34 attempts and added 50 walks while flashing quality defense in center field. He missed part of the season after stretching a ligament in his right index finger.

Maybin will be 19 years old when he reports to Spring Training in February. He won't turn 20 until April 4.

The invite is expected to be a learning experience for Maybin rather than a chance to make the Tigers roster, which already appears set with at least four outfielders. He's expected to begin the regular season at Class A Lakeland and have an opportunity to climb the developmental ladder later in the year.
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Expected.

Tigers finalize spring invite list
Veteran outfielder Perez to join Jurrjens, Dlugach in Lakeland

Prospects Jair Jurrjens and Brent Dlugach have joined Cameron Maybin among the Tigers farmhands who received invitations to Spring Training.

The Tigers released their full list of 16 non-roster invitees on Wednesday after complementing their Minor League signings with prospect invitations last week. Detroit will have 56 players in camp, four fewer than last year and well fewer than seasons past, when the team's rebuilding process meant that several Minor League free agents were in camp trying out for big-league jobs. Barring injuries or other surprises, most of this year's Opening Day roster appears already set, save for the Tigers' search for a potential second left-handed reliever.

Jurrjens ranked fourth on Detroit's top prospect list according to Baseball America after posting a 9-3 record and 2.69 ERA in 24 starts between Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. The right-hander will turn 21 at the end of January, two weeks before pitchers and catchers report to camp in Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 15.

Dlugach, who will turn 24 in March, spent all but two games of his 2006 season at Lakeland, batting .256 with five home runs, 52 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 144 strikeouts in 125 games. He played in two games down the stretch for Triple-A Toledo when the Mud Hens needed infield help.

Maybin was the Tigers' Minor League Player of the Year after an impressive first pro season. He batted .304 with nine home runs, 20 doubles and 69 RBIs in 101 games for Class A West Michigan. He also stole 27 bases in 34 attempts and added 50 walks. He missed part of the season after stretching a ligament in his right index finger.

Joining the list of Minor League signings is outfielder Timo Perez, who spent part of last season with the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals before being designated for assignment. He hit .295 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 75 games for Triple-A Memphis. The left-handed hitter is expected to serve as an insurance piece in the outfield, likely starting the season at Toledo.

He'll likely be sharing outfield time with former Washington Nationals center fielder Brandon Watson, who signed early in the offseason. Watson played in 10 Major League games last year for the Nationals and Cincinnati Reds mixed in between 63 games combined at the Triple-A level. He earned a September look by the Nationals after batting .355 with 31 steals in 88 games for New Orleans in 2005.

The lefty relief search will include invitees Bobby Seay, Tim Byrdak and Felix Heredia. Seay returns to the Tigers organization after pitching in 14 games for Detroit early last year, followed by 24 appearances at Toledo.

Other returning Mud Hens receiving invitations include pitcher Craig Dingman, infielders Mike Hessman and Kevin Hooper and outfielder Ryan Raburn. Dingman will be attempting a comeback after missing all of 2006 recovering from surgery to repair a blood vessel in his right arm.

Catchers Gabe Johnson, Dane Sardinha and Steve Torrealba round out the list. Sardinha is a former Reds prospect who batted .175 in 71 games for Triple-A Louisville last year. Torrealba spent the last two years in independent ball, most recently batting .200 in 28 games for the Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League last year. Johnson spent eight years catching in the Cardinals system, where he played 63 games for Double-A Springfield and eight games for Memphis last year.
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TIMO!!