The White Sox, already rich in catching talent with future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, veteran Ron Karkovice and backup Matt Merullo, asked four minor- league catchers Wednesday to join the team in spring training next month.
Former Montreal Expo Nelson Santovenia was invited after signing a Triple-A contract earlier in the day. Accompanying him will be three prospects from the farm system-Clemente Alvarez, Darrin Campbell and Rogelio Nunez.
The four catchers were among 12 non-roster players the Sox invited to Sarasota, Fla. Besides the catchers, who were invited mainly to ensure the pitchers have enough receivers to work with early in camp, the Sox invited two promising pitchers, four infielders and a pair of outfielders.
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The pitchers were starter Rod Bolton, who went 8-4 with a 1.62 earned-run average at Class Double-A Birmingham, and Mike Dunne, a reliever and spot starter, who was 2-2 with two saves at Triple-A Vancouver.
Shawn Jeter, who hit .299 in Triple-A last season, and Brad Komminsk, who played for Oakland, are the outfielders.
The infielders were led by Joe Hall, who hit .303 in Venezuela this winter, and Mike Robertson, a switch-hitting first baseman, who batted .329 for Class-A South Bend. They will be joined by first baseman Chris Cron, who hit .291 in Triple-A and played six games for the California Angels last season, and Ever Magallanes, a left-handed-hitting shortstop, who batted .285 in Triple-A last season and was called up by the Cleveland Indians at the end of the season.
Conventional wisdom: The Cubs seventh annual fans convention is sold out. Rooms set aside for fans at the Hilton and Towers and the Palmer House have been taken, and the Cubs said they had stopped selling weekend tickets for non-hotel guests for the event Feb. 7-9.
”We want to ensure that this is a manageable event and an enjoyable atmosphere,” said John McDonough, Cubs vice president for marketing and broadcasting. McDonough said 12,000 to 15,000 people are expected to attend the convention.