It’s that time of year, folks. The weather is starting to turn, people will be sneezing up storms soon, and pitchers and catchers will be reporting to either a dry warm climate or a wet warm climate to throw stitched balls to one another.I do agree that pitchers and catchers report day is the most overrated day in professional sports. On the actual day, we might see a few pictures of pitchers, or some beatwriter will put out their annual fluff piece on a guy coming back from injury, but overall there’s barely any real news. However, beforehand, the non-roster Spring Traning invites list drops and that is way more exciting than P&C day.
In today’s piece, I’ll break the NRI’s down by position and give my best to predict the 1-2 players that have the best chance to make the roster at some point in the 2024 season.
(Just a reminder, all players on the 40-man are already included in Spring Training, so they will not be on this list.)
Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees: Pitchers
- LHP Ben Bowden
- LHP Hayden Harris
- RHP Tommy Doyle
- RHP Hurston Waldrep
- RHP Grant Holmes
- RHP Taylor Widener
- RHP Ken Giles
- RHP Jake Walsh
Breakdown: I really like this list and it feels like the best list of NRIs from outside the org that the Braves have put together in quite some time. Every one of these guys have upside and 1 flaw that they need to fix. Of the group, my guess is Grant Holmes, Ken Giles, and Hurston Waldrep make the bigs at some point. Giles, who hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2022, was once suspended for punching someone while walking off the mound after giving up a 3 run dinger. The person he punched? Himself.
Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees: Catchers
Breakdown: When Sean Murphy or Travis D’Arnaud hit the IL, it’s almost a guarantee that it’ll be Tromp time. Baldwin might end up being the 2nd catcher of the future, but I can’t imagine that he’ll see the bigs this year. Still, I like his upside, the makeup, his stick, and the fact that he’s a LH hitter. My guess is he takes D’Arnaud’s place when TD hangs up the cleats for a clipboard.
Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees: Infielders
- Ignacio Alvarez
- Luke Waddell
- Phillip Evans
- David Fletcher
- Leury Garcia
- Alejo Lopez
- Andrew Velazquez
- Luke Williams
Breakdown: Of this list, my favorite to be the backup would be Luke Waddell, who has a bit of a Martin Prado makeup in him. However, the reality is that it’ll likely be one of Velazquez, Williams, Fletcher, or Garcia. It’s a big year for “Nacho” and I can’t wait to see if he’ll finally add that power that we know he’s capable of producing.
Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees: Outfielders
Breakdown: Luplow is the likeliest of the 3 to break camp with the team. However, I’m not sure it’s that likely as I’d wager a bet that Alex Anthopoulos is waiting out the market to find which RHH OFers/SU types that are left without a job between players like Michael Taylor, Randal Grichuk, Adam Duvall, and Kiké Hernandez.
I like the four OFs you mentioned but all are currently (or likely to be) too expensive. Kyle Lewis is still out there. Any of those five on a MiLB deal would be fantastic. I’d also like to see Uncle Jesse back on a MiLB deal. However, we may be at the point where some of the other roster and non-roster pitchers might be better to try in the event of injury (Daysbel, Kerr, Holmes, Giles, etc….). Any would have a long way to go to match what Jesse was doing last year.
I wonder if there’s any chance AA could deal Fletcher to save salary. I think Guillorme will be as good or better and a lot cheaper.
P.S. I hate February. I want me some baseball!!!!
I think there’s a good chance that some desperate team will pay 1/2 of Fletcher’s salary to play for them next year. The SS market is awful.
I would rather have some insurance for Arcia. I am not as bullish as some of you on his chances to repeat his All-Star season. There is a significant chance he becomes a .230 hitter with good but not great defense within the next 2 years.
Ryan, the boy in the cap has a lot of hair. Is he a relative of yours?
I’m ready too, Roger. Let the games begin.
That’s actually my daughter Finn, who looks quite different now! 😂
Sorry, Finn. Your pop’s a good man, knows baseball and loves you beyond measure; but your mother’s better looking. Be glad you got her beauty.
Hi — the Hayden Harris link is to the second baseman from Longwood College, not our pitcher from Georgia Southern.
Yeah…I recognized that. I used the b-ref linker and it just automates.