Dodgers sign free-agent catcher Miguel Olivo, invite Joc Pederson to spring training.

Miguel Olivo

Miguel Olivo was suspended by the Miami Marlins after leaving the club midway through the 2013 season. (Associated Press photo)


The Dodgers bulked up their major-league spring training roster Tuesday with one veteran and a swarm of prospects.

Free agent catcher Miguel Olivo, 35, signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Olivo batted .203/.250/.392 for the Miami Marlins last year before leaving the team in June. More recently Olivo batted .198/.289/.314 in 26 games in the Dominican Winter League.
The 12-year major league veteran immediately becomes the most experienced backstop in camp. Only three catchers are currently on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster: A.J. Ellis, Tim Federowicz and Drew Butera.
The Dodgers also re-signed catcher Griff Erickson to a minor-league deal and invited him to spring training, along with eight of the organization’s top prospects: Joc Pederson, Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Ross Stripling, Miguel Rojas, Red Patterson, Carlos Frias and Chris O’Brien.

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Fifteen prospects invade Dodger Stadium starting Sunday.

Nick Buss

Outfielder Nick Buss is one of 15 players scheduled to participate in the Dodgers’ annual prospects development program this week. (Associated Press photo)

The Dodgers’ annual Winter Development Program, designed to help acclimate prospects to the major-league environment, begins Sunday and runs through Thursday at Dodger Stadium. The program is closed to the public.

Outfielder Joc Pederson, rated by Baseball America as the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect, headlines a list of 15 prospects scheduled to participate. Others include pitchers Seth Rosin, Zach Lee, Ross Stripling, Jose Dominguez, Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia, Matt Magill, Chris Reed and Jarret Martin; outfielders Nick Buss and Scott Schebler; infielder Miguel Rojas; and catchers Pratt Maynard and Chris O’Brien.

Their schedule includes seminars with Dodger staffers and workouts that focus on fundamentals, strength training and conditioning. Off the field, the program is highlighted by sessions with Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, general manager Ned Colletti, team president Stan Kasten, former manager Tommy Lasorda, and retired players Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Eric Karros, Shawn Green. There will be social events in the greater Los Angeles area and a community service visit to A Place Called Home, a youth center in South L.A.

Six of the 11 participants in last year’s Winter Development Program played in the Major Leagues in 2013. Since its inception in 2008, 40 participating players have reached the big leagues.

Here’s a bit about what each player did in 2013, not including the winter league season:
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Corey Seager among eight Dodgers listed on preliminary Arizona Fall League rosters.

Corey Seager

Dodgers prospect Corey Seager will play in the Arizona Fall League. (Associated Press photo)

Corey Seager was among eight Dodgers listed on the preliminary rosters for the Arizona Fall League, an off-season development circuit for the majors’ top prospects.

Seager, the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2012, will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs, based out of Camelback Ranch. He’ll be joined by catchers Pratt Maynard and Chris O’Brien (Rancho Cucamonga), outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez (Chattanooga), and four Dodgers pitchers to be named later.

Seager, 19, was promoted from low-A Great Lakes to high-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga at midseason and batted .165 with four home runs in 21 games after the promotion. With Great Lakes, the shortstop batted .309 with 12 homers in 74 games.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Byron Buxton, who was chosen the number one prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, is also on the Desert Dogs’ roster.

Jeff Smith, a coach in the Twins’ organization, will manage the squad. The AFL begins play on October 8.