Non Roster players Invited to spring training

[Russ]

What is the difference between the non roster players invited to spring training and the dozens of minor leaguers playing in spring training games?

[DocBauer]

6 minutes ago, Russ said:

What is the difference between the non roster players invited to spring training and the dozens of minor leaguers playing in spring training games?

It can be confusing for sure.

Many times the "non roster invites" are former MLB players signed to MILB contracts like 1B/DH Ford in camp with the Twins. Or Castro a couple years ago. A SOMEONE who might blossom and surprise. Sometimes the MILB deals they sign INCLUDES an invite to camp.

But often, they are just the team needing "bodies" to help out. Severino, for example, was a 40 man roster addition after his great 2023 season. After a somewhat disappointing 2024, he elected to stay with the Twins and they brought him in as an invite because 1B isn't exactly settled, and because they still see at least some potential there.

All teams need multiple catchers to catch all the arms in camp, so more than a couple of them are brought in...despite not being legitimate competitors for a roster spot...just to handle the load.

Sometimes, a NRI is a top prospect that might be CLOSE but not on the 40 man yet, and the FO and coaching staff wants to take a good look at them.

Potential relief arms are very common for NRI. And once in a while you get a Stewart, or a Duarte who impressed and made the club in 2024 before blowing out his elbow after a couple appearances.

But ST rosters mean NOTHING in the context of the 40 man roster in regard to ST games. The MILB players are only a couple hundreds of feet away from the rostered players. You can plug them in to your lineup or pitching staff with short notice.

EXAMPLE: Rosario appeared in the game against the Braves and he's NOT an invited player. If the Twins wanted to bring Jenkins over tomorrow to play a couple of innings, he could with no issue. 

SOME of being invited means the team is LOOKING at you. Some are filling a limited purpose. Some are just being brought over to give them experience.

 

[ashbury]

NRI guys will appear in official spring training games, along with the obvious 40-man candidates. The Twins website has separate lists of these:

https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/40-man

https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/nri

Besides Rosario mentioned above, Ryan Fitzgerald scored a run today after coaxing a walk, and I wasn't even aware the Twins had him.  Laweryson and Rozek each sneaked in an inning on the mound.

57 guys and enough of them aren't ready that they still need to resort to walk-ons.

Or maybe some players just know how to crash the party without an invite.  😀

I'd love for a FO insider to explain this.  I bet it's got something to do with money (meal money, insurance and other major league fringe benefits, etc) while in camp.

[stringer bell]

Back in the day, the Twins major league and minor league training camps weren't in the same city. A player couldn't easily be called up to play a few innings in a ST game and the major league field staff wouldn't get a chance to see prospects for the entirety of ST. 

I don't think minor leaguers in big league camp make more money or have more rights, but they get seen by the major league staff and can make an impression. Players on the 40-man who have no chance of making the squad get cut early because if they get injured they have to be put on the major league Injured List and accumulate major league service time.