Spring Training games start on February 20, as Major League teams prepare for the 2025 season. However, there are a lot of notable players who aren’t just looking to get ready for the season but to fight for an MLB roster spot. Specifically, the non-roster invitees. Here’s our watch list of notable 2025 non-roster invitees, starting with the prospects.
Prospects
- OF Roman Anthony (Red Sox)
- P Chase Burns (Reds)
- 1B Jac Caglianone (Royals)
- 1B Bryce Eldridge (Giants)
- 2B Christian Moore (Angels)
- P Andrew Painter (Phillies)
- P Roki Sasaki (Dodgers)
- P Brandon Sproat (Mets)
- INF Matt Shaw (Cubs)
- SS Carson Williams (Rays)
The most notable name on this list is Roki Sasaki, the star Japanese pitcher who’s virtually a lock to start 2025 in Los Angeles if he’s healthy. However, because he was signed to a Minor League deal in January, the Dodgers don’t have to place him on the 40-man roster just yet.
Sasaki is expected to be a part of what sounds to be a five-man rotation in Los Angeles for now. The team stated it doesn’t expect to need a six-man rotation in April, given the number of days off during the Dodgers’ first few weeks.
Speaking of pitchers, there’s no shortage of young, premium arms in camp. Andrew Painter is back and active after missing all of 2024 thanks to Tommy John surgery recovery. Painter performed and looked well during the Arizona Fall League, hitting the high-90s with his fastball.
As for the Mets, Brandon Sproat ascended from High-A to Triple-A last season. Now, he’ll fight for a spot on the Mets rotation, feasible to attain with Frankie Montas out with a lat strain.
Bryce Eldridge, much like Sproat, raced to Triple-A after a dominant 2024 campaign. The Giants have needed a homegrown slugger and Eldridge, with plus-plus raw pop, could be that guy.
Outfielder Roman Anthony, one of the top prospects in all of baseball, is in camp with the Red Sox. Anthony nearly recorded a 20-20 season down in the Minors last season and is armed with speed and pop.
Matt Shaw, the former power-hitting infielder from the University of Maryland, cracked 21 home runs last season. And with a hole at third base, Shaw could make it to the Cubs‘ Opening Day roster.
This year’s Spring Training is also set to give fans a first look at some of the top players drafted last July. Chase Burns, the second-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, is a part of big league camp, as are Jac Caglianone and Christian Moore.
Moore, out of the bunch, is arguably the closest to the Majors. The Angels are aggressive when it comes to promoting prospects — the team moved Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel to the Majors less than a year after being selected — and Moore hit .347 (.984 OPS) during his short Minor League team last season.
Veterans
- Nick Anderson (Cardinals)
- Tim Anderson (Angels)
- Jake Bauers (Brewers)
- Giovanny Gallegos (Dodgers)
- Eloy Jimenez (Rays)
- Tyler Matzek (Yankees)
- Wade Miley (Reds)
- Adam Ottavino (Red Sox)
- Drew Pomeranz (Mariners)
- Brendan Rodgers (Astros)
It’s not a surprise to see several notable relievers as non-roster invitees, particularly the ones listed above.
Perhaps the most notable is Adam Ottavino, who signed with Boston on February 18. Ottavino is a former Red Sox who spent the last three seasons with the Mets. Last season with New York (NL), Ottavino struck out 70 over 56 frames with a 4.34 ERA.
Ottavino last pitched with the Red Sox in 2021, a year that saw him post a 1.45 WHIP but still be a productive reliever with Boston.
While Ottavino’s numbers on paper weren’t bad, the 39-year-old’s velocity — to little shock — has gone down. His mean four-seam velo went from 94.8 MPH in 2022 to 93.2 MPH in 2024. However, his deceptive delivery — the plus extension and low arm slot — coupled with his diverse pitch arsenal helped him maintain positive production.
Relievers are always in demand, hence why most of the names on this portion of the list are bullpen guys.
Nick Anderson heads west to St. Louis after an uneven season with Kansas City. Tyler Matzek will look to crack the Yankees’ roster, one that could still use another left-hander. The Yankees brought back Tim Hill two weeks ago. Former All-Star Drew Pomeranz, who’s dealt with a myriad of injuries and has only thrown 14.2 IP in the Minors over the last two years, is in Mariners camp.
Then, there are the bats.
Jake Bauers was a playoff hero last October for the Brewers, as he gave Milwaukee a late lead in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Round last October. However, Bauers hit .199/.301/.361 (.662 OPS) in the regular season. Bauers is a pure power hitter but has made major swing-and-miss problems over his career. Thus, he’ll have to fight for a spot on the Brewers’ 2025 roster.
Eloy Jimenez, the oft-injured DH, is with the Rays on a Minor League deal. Jimenez hit 18 home runs two years ago with the White Sox and could have benefitted from a season in Tropicana Field (that won’t be happening for obvious reasons). He’s still got plenty of bat speed — he ranked above average in that metric — but Jimenez needs to stay on the field.
Another former White Sox, Tim Anderson, is a non-roster invitee for the Angels. With Anthony Rendon out thanks to hip surgery, Anderson has an opening. However, can Anderson keep it simple like he did during his Chicago days?
Another recently-signed name is Brendan Rodgers, now with the Astros. Rodgers is a good, rangy defender at second base but never hit for pop with the Rockies. He does, however, have a short, quick approach at the plate and looks to shoot the ball straight to center field.
Be sure to check out our guide on streaming MLB in 2025.