With spring training right around the corner, the Braves announced their list of non-roster invitees.
The Braves invited 26 non-roster players to big-league camp. The group ranges from left-hander Jared Shuster, the club’s top prospect on MLB.com, to outfielder Kevin Pillar, a veteran big leaguer hoping to prove he has something left. There are also a couple familiar faces.
Twelve of the invitees possess previous MLB experience. Four have appeared for the Braves, including pitcher Jesse Chavez and infielder Ehire Adrianza.
A non-roster invite is an invite to big-league spring training for a player who is not on the 40-man roster.
Chavez, a big part of the bullpen over the last two seasons, will be in camp as a non-roster invitee. The Braves signed Chavez to a minor-league deal in November.
In 2021, his last full season in the majors, Pillar hit 15 home runs for the Mets. He had hot stretches with the bat and played solid defense. He provides the Braves with added outfield depth and, as a proven big leaguer, is someone who can step in at a moment’s notice.
Last season, Shuster represented the Braves at the Futures Game, which includes many of the game’s top prospects. Over Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, Shuster posted a 3.29 ERA over 27 games (25 of them starts). Shuster, who might have the best change-up in the system, probably won’t make the team because the Braves have tons of rotation depth, but his time in big-league camp should be positive for him.
Along with Shuster, the No. 1 prospect in the system, right-hander Victor Vodnik (No. 7) and infielder Cal Conley (No. 9) are names from the Braves’ top 10 prospects who will be in major-league camp.
Then you have two familiar faces: Adrianza and Adeiny Hechavarría. Adrianza spent time on the roster last season before Atlanta brought him back on a minor-league deal. Hechavarría hasn’t appeared in the majors since playing for the Braves in 2020. Both guys are solid upper-minors infield depth.
Catcher Ryan Casteel, a 31-year-old journeyman who has never appeared in the majors, will be in big-league camp after leading Triple-A Gwinnett with 17 homers last season. He also posted a .784 OPS. Fellow catchers Drake Baldwin (No. 17) and Tyler Tolve (No. 26) are both part of MLB.com’s list of Braves top prospects.
One name you might remember is right-hander Blake Burkhalter, whom the Braves selected with the No. 76 overall pick in last year’s draft. He’s their No. 19 prospect. Burkhalter and Baldwin – the catcher drafted in the third round last summer – are the only members of the 2022 amateur draft class invited to big-league camp.
One more name that hardcore baseball fans may recognize: Magneuris Sierra. In 2017, when the Marlins traded Marcell Ozuna – a current Brave – to the Cardinals, Miami received Sandy Alcantara (the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner), Sierra, Zac Gallen (now the Diamondbacks’ top starter) and Daniel Castano.
Over 591 career at-bats with multiple teams, Sierra has a .546 OPS and no home runs.
Pitchers and catchers who are participating in the World Baseball Classic will report to their specific MLB camps Feb. 13. Non-WBC Braves pitchers and catchers will report to camp Feb. 15, with their first workout set for Feb. 16.
WBC position players will report by Feb. 16. Non-WBC Braves position players report Feb. 20, with the club’s first full-squad workout coming Feb. 21.
Here is the complete list of non-roster players:
Pitchers (11): RH Blake Burkhalter, RH Jesse Chavez, LH Dylan Dodd, LH Brian Moran, RH Roel Ramírez, RH Alan Rangel, RH Yacksel Ríos, LH Jared Shuster, RH Victor Vodnik, RH Brooks Wilson, LH Danny Young
Catchers (4): Drake Baldwin, Ryan Casteel, Joe Hudson, Tyler Tolve
Infielders (6): Ehire Adrianza, Cal Conley, Joe Dunand, Adeiny Hechavarría, Yolmer Sánchez, Luke Waddell
Outfielders (5): Justin Dean, Cody Milligan, Kevin Pillar, Magneuris Sierra, Forrest Wall
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