Spring Scouting: Non-Roster Invitees To Know
Prospects you need to know this Spring
This article was previously published on TJStats.ca
With Spring Training starting this week, we will have our first taste of MLB this year. One of my favourite parts about this time of the baseball season is to follow which prospects earned an invitation to camp. These invited players that are not listed on their respective team’s 40-Man Roster are known as “Non-Roster Invitees”. Typically, NRIs range from veteran minor league players to some of the best prospects baseball has to offer. Many of these players are getting their first taste of MLB pitching with a handful fighting for their spot to crack the opening day roster.
This article highlights the most intriguing NRIs for each MLB team and includes my thoughts as to why you should follow them this spring. To view your favourite team’s NRIs, check out this app.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Waldschmidt, CF (#42)
Daniel Eagen, RHP
Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP
Cristofer Torin, 2B
The Diamondbacks will feel right at home in the Cactus league which will hopefully get Ryan Waldschmidt (#42) familiar with Arizona. The Diamondbacks top prospect excelled in his first pro season thanks to a solid blend of offensive tools that could propel him to an MLB debut early in the season. Cristofer Torin has showcased advanced bat-to-ball skills throughout his MiLB career and projects to be a solid defender at 2B. Any indication that his power ceiling has risen during the Spring could spark a rapid rise in his stock. Daniel Eagen looks like an early win from the 2024 draft after the 3rd round selection cruised through Hi-A in his first pro season on the heels of a well-balanced array of pitches. Jonathan Loaisiga, although not a prospect, could be a fixture in the Diamondbacks bullpen with a productive spring after his return from an injury-riddled 2025 season that saw his tenure with the Yankees end.
Athletics
Leo De Vries, SS (#12)
Gage Jump, LHP (#26)
Wei-En Lin, LHP (#76)
Jamie Arnold, LHP (#77)
Henry Bolte, RF
A.J. Causey, RHP
The Athletics are shipping a ton of firepower to Spring Training as they have invited their Top 5 prospects. Leading the pack is teenage phenom Leo De Vries (#12) who was acquired from the Padres at the deadline last season. The switch-hitting shortstop is my #12 MLB prospect and he will look to continue his impressive stretch against older competition. Along with De Vries, the Athletics invited a trio of southpaws in Gage Jump (#26), Wei-En Lin (#76), and Jamie Arnold (#77). Jump became a favourite of mine last Spring after he flashed an excellent fastball, a trait that held throughout 2025 in addition to improved command. Lin made his debut on my Top 100 after a strong season where he threw strikes on command and quickly made his way to AA as a teenager. Arnold was the A’s first selection in the 2025 MLB draft and this Spring will mark his first pro action. Henry Bolte is a dynamic outfielder with 80-grade speed and plus raw power, but is not without his flaws. His bat-to-ball skills put a damper on an otherwise intriguing power-speed blend. The Athletics recently acquired A.J. Causey, a funky side-arm reliever with pin-point command and a hellacious changeup which returned a 46.0% whiff rate last season.
Atlanta Braves
Owen Murphy, RHP
JR Ritchie, RHP
John Gil, 3B
Alex Lodise, SS
JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy were on the cusp of cracking my Preseason Top 100 Prospect list. Ritchie profiles to be more of a backend starter with a deep mix and an outside chance to break camp following some unfortunate injury news for the Braves. Murphy will kick off his first full season back from TJS in the spring where I will be closely watching for any gains in velocity. His fastball traits alone make him an exciting prospect to watch. John Gil is a name to watch in the Braves pipeline after he leaped to AA in his age 19 season. I expect him to start the year in Hi-A, but he could be a quick mover thanks to advanced swing decisions and solid defense at shortstop. Alex Lodise was the Braves 2nd round pick from the 2025 draft thanks to an impressive showing of power and defense at FSU.
Baltimore Orioles
Luis De Leon, LHP
Nestor German, RHP
Trey Gibson, RHP
Levi Wells, RHP
Aron Estrada, 2B
Enrique Bradfield Jr., CF
Baltimore has quickly become a pitching prospect factory as they have a handful of young arms ready to make an impact in the Majors in 2026. Leading the way is Trey Gibson and his meteoric rise through the minors in 2025. He has excellent capacity to spin the ball and if he can exhibit meaningful improvements to his fastball this Spring he could make a case to break camp with the Orioles. Luis De Leon looks to be gunning for the top arm in the system after an excellent season which he capped off with an impressive showing in the AFL. There is still a ways to go with his command, but both the velocity from the left side and slider-splitter combo give him a tantalizing strikeout ceiling. Levi Wells and Nestor German are upper minors arms with strong fastballs that had productive MiLB seasons last year. Aron Estrada made waves in 2025 as he forced his way to AA in his age 20 season and posted a 138 wRC+ across 27 games at the level. He is a switch hitter who can play all over the field and displayed solid bat-to-ball skills and above-average power against higher-level competition. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is a speedy center fielder with an excellent eye who could realistically join the Orioles early in the season thanks to his stellar defensive profile.
Boston Red Sox
Mikey Romero, SS
The Red Sox have extended non-roster invitations to mostly veteran minor league players with the only notable prospect being Mikey Romero. Romero has plus bat speed and a swing geared for loft.
Chicago Cubs
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP (#71)
Jonathon Long, 1B
Jefferson Rojas, SS
There may not be a NRI pitcher more electric than Jaxon Wiggins (#71). The Cubs righty was utterly dominant in 2025 and flashed one of the best fastballs in baseball. He has the tools to be an impact arm for Chicago this season and we should get an exciting preview this Spring. Jonathon Long was a prospect I expected to be moved this winter given his restricted path to the Majors, but the Cubs kept him around. He was excellent in AAA last year as he flashed a well-rounded offensive profile. Jefferson Rojas fell out of favour last season as he struggled mightily following his promotion to AA, but looks to get back on track with a strong Spring entering his age 21 season.
Chicago White Sox
Braden Montgomery, OF (#66)
Noah Schultz, LHP (#79)
Hagen Smith, LHP
Sam Antonacci, SS
The White Sox farm system has seen a fair bit of turnover in recent years with graduations and additions alike. This Spring they are flexing their prospect capital after extending a non-roster invitation to their top pitching prospects and two intriguing bats. Noah Schultz (#79) and Hagen Smith had seasons to forget in 2025. Both southpaws struggled with command and were sidelined at points -- Schultz due to a knee issue while Smith was sent to the White Sox complex to work on his mechanics. Both Schultz and Smith have exciting ceilings as mid-rotation starters and a preview this Spring could foretell their 2026 outlook. Joining the pitchers are Braden Montgomery (#66) and Sam Antonacci -- two batters with strikingly opposite profiles. Montgomery is a toolsy outfielder with plus power and a flawed hit tool and Antonacci is a contact-first second baseman with a great sense of the strikezone. They both have a chance to make their MLB debuts in 2026.
Cincinnati Reds
Cam Collier, 3B
Cam Collier is the lone notable NRI from the Reds. The 2022 1st round selection has steadily produced at a solid level in his pro career thanks to budding raw power and electric bat speed.
Cleveland Guardians
Travis Bazzana, 2B (#47)
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (#48)
Cooper Ingle, C
The Guardians farm system is chock full of exciting prospects (6 were featured on my Top 100) and they are inviting some their best to Spring Training. Travis Bazzana (#47), the #1 overall selection in the 2024 draft, is on the cusp of making his MLB debut this season. He could feasibly open the season with Cleveland with a strong spring, although a mid-season call-up feels more realistic. Ralphy Velazquez (#48) will enter Spring Training at just 20 years old and will look to build upon his impressive end to his 2025 season. The imposing first baseman has some of the best power traits of any prospect in the Guardians system and could make a bang in the Cactus league. Cooper Ingle wraps up this trio of batters with a refined hit tool and solid blocking behind the plate.
Colorado Rockies
Sean Sullivan, LHP
T.J. Rumfield, 1B
Jared Thomas, CF
Charlie Condon, OF
Being excited about a Rockies prospect is a fool’s errand, but Sean Sullivan really does feel like he can break the Coors curse. Sullivan has made light work of MiLB since his pro debut on the heels of excellent command and funky release. He has bottom of the barrel velocity, but his profile might be distinct enough to navigate the treacherous waters of Colorado. Charlie Condon, Jared Thomas, and T.J. Rumfield are three power bats that all have a chance to make their MLB debut with Rumfield being the most likely to break camp with the Rockies.
Detroit Tigers
Kevin McGonigle, SS (#2)
Max Clark, CF (#7)
Josue Briceno, C (#22)
Max Anderson, 2B
John Peck, SS
The Tigers pipeline is flourishing right now and it is led by a trio of NRI that could feasibly force their way to the Majors this season. Kevin McGonigle (#2) leads the way with his MiLB-best hit tool and developing power. I heavily considered ranking him as the #1 prospect in baseball which goes to show how confident I am in his profile. Max Clark (#7) and Josue Briceno (#22) are less likely to debut in 2026, but that should not detract from their stupendous profiles. Clark is a five-tool center fielder who shared encouraging training videos throughout the winter and Josue Briceno has one of the loudest bats in the minors. Max Anderson and John Peck are a pair of 2023 draftees that posted strong results last season supported by an aggressive approach and solid power metrics.
Houston Astros
Joseph Sullivan, CF
Walker Janek, C
The Astros farm system was not strong to start the off-season, and it took a big hit following the acquisition of Mike Burrows from the Pirates. Among their remaining top prospects not on their 40-Man roster, only Joseph Sullivan and Walker Janek have received an invitation to Spring Training. Sullivan is an extremely patient -- to a fault sometimes -- hitter with plus power but an unsteady hit tool. The Astros outfielder depth is light entering 2026 making him a possible mid-season call up. Janek was the Astros’ first selection in the 2024 draft and projects to be a strong defensive catcher with plus power potential.
Kansas City Royals
Blake Mitchell, C
The Royals do not have much depth in their farm system with Carter Jensen being their only prospect to crack my Top 100. Only one hitter caught my eye from their non-roster invitees. Blake Mitchell has found himself on multiple Top 100 Prospect lists this winter (MLB Pipeline and ESPN) thanks to his excellent framing ability behind the plate and blend of patience and power. He failed to crack my list due to concerning whiff rates.
Los Angeles Angels
George Klassen, RHP (#67)
Tyler Bremner, RHP
Nelson Rada, CF
Raudi Rodriguez, CF
Tyler Bremner will make his pro debut this spring after being selected 2nd overall by the Angels in the 2025 draft. Bremner wields an impressive changeup and solid fastball, but lacks a critical third pitch at the moment to be considered one of the best pitching prospects in MLB. He is one of the pitchers I am most excited to follow this Spring Training. Joining that group of exciting arms is George Klassen (#67). After a comebacker off the head derailed his 2025 season, I am very interested to see how Klassen bounces back this year. His velocity remains elite and I am confident in saying that his slider is one of the best pitches in the minors. A strong showing this spring could see him break camp with the Angels given their questionable rotation. Nelson Rada is one of the youngest players invited to camp this year, mirroring his journey throughout his pro career. He is an excellent defender with a strong eye, but I am wary that his lack of power will heavily limit his ceiling. Raudi Rodriguez made his case for an invitation with an excellent showing in the AFL where he flexed plus power and tantalizing defensive upside.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Josue De Paula, RF (#34)
Zyhir Hope, CF (#35)
Jackson Ferris, LHP
Adam Serwinowski, LHP
Kendall George, CF
James Tibbs III, RF
Zach Ehrhard, OF
The Dodgers pipeline is seemingly always chock full of exciting prospects, and this year it is no different. Leading the way is a pair of outfielders in Josue De Paula (#34) and Zyhir Hope (#35) who have moved through the system together. De Paula has a more refined approach with better bat control while Hope wields an electric bat and plus speed. James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard are a pair of outfielders acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline that were early selections in the 2024 draft. Both Tibbs and Ehrhard are patient at the dish with the former providing more power and the latter bringing more athleticism. Kendall George doesn’t have the same offensive upside as his aforementioned farmmates, but he provides game breaking speed as illustrated by his 100 stolen bases last season. The Dodgers pitching pipeline is not as deep as their bats, but they have invited a pair of southpaws in Adam Serwinowski and Jackson Ferris who have flashed intriguing traits throughout their pro careers.
Miami Marlins
Robby Snelling, LHP (#24)
Thomas White, LHP (#25)
Karson Milbrandt, RHP
Kemp Alderman, RF
Dillon Lewis, OF
Fenwick Trimble, OF
The Marlins are not messing around this Spring as they have invited a handful of their top prospects to the Grapefruit League. Leading the pack are Robby Snelling (#24) and Thomas White (#25), two of the best left-handed pitching prospects in MLB. Both flexed their impressive stuff in AAA last season and are expected to make their MLB debut in 2026. Joining them is high-octane starter Karson Milbrandt who has a wicked fastball that carried him to a 29.0 K% in 2025. The batters they invited will look to make their presence known with their loud bats. Dillon Lewis, who was acquired from the Yankees, and Kemp Alderman have excellent raw power while Fenwick Trimble made waves around MiLB with an impressive showcase of offensive production.
Milwaukee Brewers
Jesus Made, SS (#5)
Jett Williams, SS (#46)
Cooper Pratt, SS (#63)
Luke Adams, 3B
Brock Wilken, 3B
Luis Lara, CF
The Brewers hitting pipeline is flourishing with talent and there is no shortage of it with their spring invitees. Teenage phenom Jesus Made (#5) enters Spring Training as an 18-year-old -- very likely the youngest player to make an appearance. He is joined by Jett Williams (#46) who was recently acquired in the trade that sent Freddy Peralta to the Mets. Williams looks to make a good impression ahead of his likely MLB debut this season. Cooper Pratt (#63) and Luis Lara are defensive wizards with plus hit tools who project to be MLB regulars up the middle. Luke Adams and Brock Wilken are two of the most prolific sluggers in the Brewers system -- both of which posted wRC+ north of 150 in AA last season.
Minnesota Twins
Walker Jenkins, CF (#17)
Cory Lewis, RHP
Kaelen Culpepper, SS
Kyler Fedko, LF
Kala’i Rosario, RF
The Twins NRIs are headlined by a handful of bats on the cusp of making their MLB debuts. Walker Jenkins (#17) is the closest of the bunch as he will have a very realistic chance of breaking camp with the team. His blend of contact, power, and patience makes him a safe bet to be an MLB regular, although I am more bearish on him than consensus. Kaelen Culpepper was a fast riser last season after he launched 20 home runs with strong defense at shortstop. He missed my Top 100 list because his underlying metrics indicated that his power outburst was not sustainable and his swing decisions were putrid. Kyler Fedko and Kala’i Rosario were both left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, but still remain intriguing prospects given their ability to translate their raw power into game action.
New York Mets
Carson Benge, OF (#13)
Jacob Reimer, 3B (#45)
Jack Wenninger, RHP (#90)
A.J. Ewing, LF (#98)
Ryan Lambert, RHP
Ryan Clifford, 1B
The Mets farm system contains some of the most exciting prospects in baseball, and a handful will be playing in the Grapefruit league this spring. Leading the way is 2024 1st rounder Carson Benge (#13) who will be in hot pursuit of an opening day roster spot. Fellow farmmates Jacob Reimer (#45), AJ Ewing (#98), and Ryan Clifford also received an invite which will hopefully be a precursor to another strong MiLB season. Jack Wenninger (#90) has received glowing reviews at camp thus far and is the arm I am most excited to watch this Spring. Rounding out this fun group of invitees is Ryan Lambert, a potential bullpen piece for the Mets this season with a devastating fastball-slider combo.
New York Yankees
George Lombard Jr., SS (#37)
Carlos Lagrange, RHP (#70)
Ben Hess, RHP
The Yankees are sending their pitching prospects to Spring Training this season in Ben Hess and Carlos Lagrange (#70). Both pitchers have wicked fastballs, but achieve their dominance in different manners. Hess tosses a low-to-mid 90s fastball with plus ride which he pairs with a trio of secondaries while Lagrange overwhelms batters with high 90s heat and variable slider. Early reports indicate that Hess is throwing harder, which could propel him into Top 100 Prospect status. George Lombard Jr. (#37) is the Yankees future solution at shortstop thanks to his budding power and excellent defensive ability. He will be one of the youngest players at camp, which indicates that the Yankees trust him to tackle higher level competition.
Philadelphia Phillies
Aidan Miller, SS (#9)
Aroon Escobar, 2B
Justin Crawford, CF
Dante Nori, OF
Aidan Miller (#9) and Justin Crawford are expected to join the Phillies in 2026, with the latter projected to start the season as their opening day center fielder. Miller catapulted himself into Top 10 prospect status with an incredible end to his 2025 season which included impressive power metrics in addition to vastly improved contact metrics. Crawford is a speedy outfielder with a solid hit tool, but his lack of juice makes me wary that his MiLB production will translate into MLB success. Joining the Phillies most intriguing bats are Aroon Escobar and Dante Nori. Escobar gained prospect steam in 2024 after an impressive showing in the FCL which he followed up with a strong stretch in Lo-A to start 2025 which ultimately landed him in AA to end the year. Dante Nori was the Phillies #1 selection in the 2024 Draft out of Northville High School and similar to Crawford, projects to be a glove-first outfielder with limited power but sound approach and solid bat-to-ball skills.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin, SS (#1)
Termarr Johnson, 2B
The Pirates have made it clear that Konnor Griffin (#1) will be given a meaningful chance at making the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training. There is likely no player with a bigger spotlight on them than Griffin this Spring. Joining him is Termarr Johnson, the former 4th overall pick, who righted the ship in AA last season.
San Diego Padres
Ethan Salas, C (#94)
Triston McKenzie, RHP
The Padres are not afraid to ship off their prospect capital for MLB talent, and the current state of their farm exemplifies that perfectly. With Ethan Salas (#94) being the only prominent prospect to receive an invitation, all eyes will be on him as he makes his way back from a back injury that kept him out for most of last season. Triston McKenzie presents a retooling project for Ruben Niebla as the Padres look to squeeze any bit of value out of the former Guardians starter and shore up their shallow rotation.
San Francisco Giants
Bo Davidson, LF
Parks Harber, 3B
Gregory Santos, RHP
Will Bednar, RHP
The Giants are bringing the fire power this Spring Training with the addition of Bo Davidson and Parks Harber. Davidson has made a name for himself in the prospect scene after being signed as an undrafted free agent from the 2023 draft. His profile consists of an aggressive approach in tandem with plus bat speed and a swing geared for line drives. Harber was a minor acquisition from the Yankees in 2025, but made major strides in the power department with an explosive showing both in Hi-A and the AFL. Gregory Santos and Will Bednar are depth relievers with some of the most exciting stuff in the system. Santos is best known for his stellar 2023 season with the White Sox before injuries tainted his time in Seattle.
Seattle Mariners
Colt Emerson, SS (#8)
Ryan Sloan, RHP (#27)
Kade Anderson, LHP (#28)
Michael Arroyo, SS (#44)
Lazaro Montes, RF (#84)
Luke Stevenson, C
Jonny Farmelo, OF
The Mariners are not messing around with their Non-Roster invitees this Spring. They have invited all five of their Top 100 prospects in addition to three more that have the talent to make a substantial leap this year. Starting off the group are Ryan Sloan (#27) and Kade Anderson (#28), two of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Sloan is a command artist with a compelling slider and budding fastball. This spring will mark Anderson’s first games in pro ball, where hopefully we get plenty of Statcast data on the best arm from the 2025 draft. Moving onto the batters, we have Colt Emerson (#8) and Michael Arroyo (#44) who could feasibly be the Mariners middle infield later this season. Lazaro Montes (#84) and Jonny Farmelo are tooled up outfielders with loud bats but concerning whiff issues. Rounding out this impressive group of prospects is Luke Stevenson. Stevenson was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft and was one of my favourite targets thanks to his selective approach and excellent contact-quality metrics at UNC while projecting to be a solid defender behind the plate.
St. Louis Cardinals
JJ Wetherholt, SS (#4)
Ixan Henderson, LHP
Luis Gastelum, RHP
Quinn Mathews, LHP
Jurrangelo Cijntje, LHP
The Cardinals NRI are headlined by JJ Wetherholt (#4), their best prospect in quite some time. The 2024 1st round selection is expected to make his MLB debut early in the 2026 season and should immediately become one of the Cardinals best hitters. His blend of bat-to-ball skills, swing decisions, and barrel control make him a very polished prospect while projecting to man a spot on the infield. Quinn Mathews and Ixan Henderson are a pair of southpaws that trended in different directions last season. Mathews dealt with injuries and saw his walk rate nearly double from his fantastic pro-debut while Henderson cruised through AA with a 2.59 ERA and 3.16 FIP across 132.0 innings with strong command of his 5-pitch mix. Jurrangelo Cijntje is the newly acquired switch-pitching phenom who may be transitioning into a RHP full-time after being listed as such on the Mariners’ official NRI list. Luis Gastelum is one of the best relief pitching prospects in MiLB who could find himself in St. Louis later this season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Brody Hopkins, RHP (#68)
Ty Johnson, RHP
T.J. Nichols, RHP
Xavier Isaac, 1B
Tre’ Morgan, 1B
Brody Hopkins (#68) leads a trio of intriguing Rays arms with an invite to Spring Training on the heels of exhilarating stuff and one of the filthiest curveballs in MiLB. Some consider Hopkins one of the best RHP prospects in baseball, but I err on the side of caution given his underwhelming command metrics. Any indication that he has cleaned up those issues this Spring could spark a meteoric rise in his prospect stock. Ty Johnson and T.J. Nichols each posted excellent campaigns in 2025 thanks to consistent strike throwing and improved swing and miss numbers. Xavier Isaac graced Top Prospect boards just over a year ago flashing advanced power metrics, but underwent brain surgery in July. This Spring will mark his return to the field. Tre’ Morgan is a glove-first first baseman -- yes, you read that correctly -- with solid bat-to-ball skills, but lacks the power to be an impact bat.
Texas Rangers
Sebastian Walcott, SS (#20)
The Rangers shipped off a lot of their prospect capital to acquire MacKenzie Gore. This significantly dried up their pipeline and it continued to worsen as Sebastian Walcott (#20) will likely miss all of the 2026 season following elbow surgery to repair a torn UCL.
Toronto Blue Jays
Arjun Nimmala, SS (#86)
Gage Stanifer, RHP (#95)
RJ Schreck, LF
Sean Keys, 3B
The Blue Jays have seen their farm system jump into the middle of the pack after a strong 2025 with a pair of the biggest risers being invited to Spring Training. Gage Stanifer (#95) was incredible last season, posting a 22.7 K-BB% thanks to one of the nastiest breaking balls in the minors. RJ Schreck drove himself to Top 10 prospect status in the system with a season that saw him post a 143 wRC+ in addition to excellent plate discipline and pull-side power. Arjun Nimmala and Sean Keys are two recent draftees that will get a taste of major league pitching before making their way to the upper minors later in 2026.
Washington Nationals
Jarlin Susana, RHP (#69)
Travis Sykora, RHP (#100)
Seaver King, SS
The Nationals have done a stellar job at replenishing their pipeline this winter through trades, yet their most notable invitees do not feature any fresh names. Jarlin Susana (#69) and Travis Sykora (#100) will use Spring Training to rehab from their respective surgeries. There is a high likelihood that neither will pitch in live games, but it would be great to catch their stuff via statcast. Seaver King, the 10th overall pick from the 2024 MLB draft, also received an invite and will look to build on the momentum from his strong stint in the AFL.
I guessing the Royals pitcher you allude to in the writeup is AJ Causey who got traded?