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Every year plus players on List of 40 men To participate in spring training, there are a number of “uninvited guests” who also come to camp. These NRI players are generally a mix of veterans who may already have significant league experience, as well as minor league prospects who have yet to be added to the 40-man roster.
In most seasons, at least several of these players will find their way to the major league active roster at some point, and one or two may make the Opening Day roster or make a significant contribution once they’re called up.. For example, in 2021 it was NRI’s Joe Mantiply who finished in 57 games with a 3.40 ERA. He followed that up by making the NL All Star Team last year. Alec Thomas was an NRI last spring who was called up in May and ended up as an A.J He was a finalist for the NL Centerfield Gold Glove. Of course this does not always work out well, but it is still important to keep an eye on these players. Here is the list of 2022 NRIs who received MLB playing time for D appearances last year
But today we’re focusing on four potential non-40 men who we expect to receive invitations. Three of them had not yet reached the point where they needed to be added to the roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.
Brandon Pfaudt: Pfaadt is the Diamondbacks’ highest-ranking pitching prospect Ranked #2 overall In the Michael McDermott System. Pfaadt, who was the Division II MVP for running backs, led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts last year in Amarillo and Reno. here is our full roundup of the 2022 season. There’s a good chance Pfaadt could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, and there’s plenty of incentive for the D-back to allow that to happen. If he were to finish in the top three for this year’s rookie, the D linebacker would get a draft vote, like the Seattle Mariners did to Julio Rodriguez, as Michael McDermott explained in December
Jordan Lawler: Lawlar is the third-ranked in the system according to McDermott, and is seen as a The 13th best prospect in baseball According to Baseball America. It was shortstop Excellent year 2022 , but his fall league stint in Arizona was cut short when he suffered a fractured shoulder blade after being hit by a pitch. Lawler is expected to fully recover and be ready for spring training.
Blake Walston: Made left handed 6’5″. Huge strides last season, who finished the year strong over his last 10 starts, going 5-0 with a 2.89 ERA and a walk-on strikeout ratio of 61/17. The Sixty will likely start the season in the Renault papers, but a mid- or late-season recall could be in the cards. It would then be a good opportunity to catch a preview of it in the spring.
Dominic Song: Kanzon, a left-handed batter/first batter, had not been added to the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft. It seemed at the time that there was a high risk of the team losing him. However, he was not optioned, and as such remains in the organization to provide extra depth in the corners of the outfield or at first base in the event that Bavin Smith is tripped, injured, or traded.