SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres announced they have extended Major League Spring Training invitations to eight players. Six of the eight minor league free agents will be new to the organization and have been signed to 2019 contracts, including left-handed pitchers Ryan Bollinger and Dietrich Enns, right-hander Tyler Higgins, infielders Seth Mejias-Brean and Aderlin Rodriguez and outfielder Jacob Scavuzzo. Infielder Allen Craig and outfielder Alex Dickerson also return to the Padres organization on 2019 minor league contracts. The Padres will announce a full list of all non-roster players who will attend 2019 Major League Spring Training at a later date.



Bollinger, 27, has made professional appearances on three continents, including the Canadian-American Association (2014-16), the Bundesliga in Germany (2017) and the Australian Baseball League (2017). The 6-5, 230-pound left-hander split the 2018 campaign in the Yankees organization between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Double-A Trenton, going 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA (48 ER, 111.2 IP) with 97 strikeouts against 33 walks. Originally drafted as a first baseman in the 47th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, he converted to a pitcher with Windy City in the Independent Frontier League in 2010. Over parts of four minor league seasons between the Phillies (2009), Chicago White Sox (2011-13) and Yankees (2018), Bollinger owns a 17-12 record with a 3.76 ERA (115 ER, 275.1 IP), 250 strikeouts and 81 walks in 78 appearances (35 starts).



The 34-year-old Craig spent the 2018 campaign with Triple-A El Paso, hitting .293/.375/.479 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, 59 RBI and 52 runs scored in 92 games played. A National League All-Star in 2013 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he owns a career .276/.333/.435 slash line with 107 doubles, 59 home runs, 296 RBI and 239 runs scored in 534 games across parts of six Major League seasons between St. Louis (2010-14) and the Boston Red Sox (2014-15).



Dickerson, 28, missed the 2018 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and did not play in 2017 after undergoing surgery to remove bulging disc material from his lower back. The Poway, Calif. native was named Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year in 2015 with El Paso and has posted a .257 batting average with 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored in 95 games played across parts of two Major League seasons.



The 27-year-old Enns split the 2018 campaign between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester of the Minnesota Twins, going a combined 9-12 with a 4.60 ERA (66 ER, 129.0 IP) and 106 strikeouts to 43 walks. Originally drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, the 6-1, 210-pound left-hander made his Major League debut in 2017 with Minnesota, making two appearances (one start). Over parts of seven minor league seasons, the Central Michigan product has posted a 36-27 record with a 2.55 ERA (150 ER, 530.1 IP), .220 opponents average, 512 strikeouts and 193 walks in 138 appearances (73 starts).



Higgins, 27, has made 225 minor league appearances (one start) across parts of eight minor league seasons, going 13-19 with a 3.62 ERA (138 ER, 342.2 IP), 280 strikeouts and 104 walks. The 6-3, 215-pound right-hander began the 2018 season with New Britain of the Independent Atlantic League before having his contract purchased by Seattle in June and making 28 relief appearances for Triple-A Tacoma, going 1-1 with a 2.83 ERA (11 ER, 35.0 IP) and three saves in four opportunities.



Over parts of seven minor league seasons and 797 games played, the 27-year-old Mejias-Brean has posted a .267 batting average with 132 doubles, 23 triples, 59 home runs, 393 RBI, 379 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. A College World Series champion with the University of Arizona in 2012, he split the 2018 campaign between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, hitting .258 with 18 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 56 RBI and 58 runs scored in 129 games.



The 27-year-old Rodriguez spent the 2018 season with Double-A Bowie of the Baltimore Orioles, hitting .286/.335/.478 with 20 doubles, 23 home runs, 92 RBI and 76 runs scored in 128 games played. Originally signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent in 2008, the 6-3, 210-pound right-handed hitter has hit .266 with 201 doubles, 155 home runs, 636 RBI and 485 runs scored across parts of 10 minor league seasons between the Mets (2009-15), Seattle Mariners (2015) and Orioles (2016-18).



Scavuzzo, 24, has spent his entire seven-season minor league career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, hitting .258 with 136 doubles, 14 triples, 91 home runs, 332 RBI, 344 runs scored and 55 stolen bases in 624 games. The 6-4, 185-pound right-handed hitter split the 2018 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, setting career highs in home runs (26) and RBI (85) while committing just one outfield error in 689.1 innings played (.993 fielding percentage).

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