Angels invite Randal Grichuk to spring training

The Los Angeles Angels have extended a big-league spring training invite to outfield prospect Randal Grichuk, reports Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register:

As Grichuk revealed Wednesday on Twitter, he’s also going to get a chance to train with the big boys beginning next month in Arizona.

The Angels informed the Texas native that he’ll begin camp with the big-league squad in spring training.

Though it was a formality more than anything, the 21-year-old Grichuk is most widely known as the guy the Halos picked before Mike Trout in the 2009 draft. Los Angeles had consecutive first-round picks in the draft and elected to take Grichuk first to push down Trout's price, not because they valued him more.

After a disappointing 2011, Grichuk turned things around this past season, hitting .298/.335/.448 with 18 home runs in 135 games of High-A ball. The righty slugger will likely spend the year at the club's Double-A affiliate in Arkansas, but the experience of training with the big-league squad will be good experience nonetheless.

The Angels have several fourth and fifth outfielder options to choose from -- including Mark Trumbo, Vernon Wells and Cole Kalhoun -- so Grichuk's chances of getting big-league playing time this season are slim. If he does as well in Arkansas as he did in the Inland Empire last year, however, he could get a September cup of coffee.