Kieboom is probably the surest NRI thing in 2019. Photo via PerfectGame
The Nationals, on the eve of spring training, announced their list of Non-Roster Invitees (NRIs) for 2019.
Here’s the list:
- RHP — Henderson Alvarez, Aaron Barrett, Scott Copeland, Wil Crowe, J.J. Hoover, Ronald Peña
- LHP — Vidal Nuño
- C —Tres Barrera, Taylor Gushue
- INF —Luis Garcia , Carter Kieboom, Jose Marmolejos, Jake Noll, Matt Reynolds, Brandon Snyder, Jacob Wilson
- OF — Hunter Jones, Chuck Taylor
Now, before you say “who cares” here’s some stats. In the last four seasons (through 2018):
- 5 NRIs made the 25-man roster straight out of Spring Training (and Guthrie technically made it 6 since he got called up a few days later and was always intended to be the 5th starter in 2017)
- 18 NRIs eventually played for the MLB team at some point that same season.
So its likely that we’re going to see these NRIs at some point in the future. Like, on average at least 4-5 of these NRIs are going to play for this team in 2019.
So lets squint and make some predictions.
- Do any of these guys stand a chance at making the Opening day roster? Yeah maybe. I think a couple of the relievers (especially Nuno) have a real shot at the bullpen if they perform in Florida. Three of the seven guys I’m projecting to the MLB bullpen have options remaining (Barraclough, Suero and Glover), the team only really has one legit lefty in the pen (Grace) and may end up carrying 8 relievers through some roster chicanery early on.
- Do any of these guys project to feature at all in 2019? Absolutely: I think Alvarez, Hoover, Nuno, Reynolds, and Snyder in particular seem likely to get call-ups to cover for injury, unless they exercise opt-outs. Reynolds is one of the few SS capable guys in the high minors, Snyder could be Zimmerman or Adams injury coverage, and Alvarez could get the call to provide spot starts if in-house options like Fedde continue to struggle at the MLB level.
- Who among these guys project to eventually get on the 40-man? The top-end prospects on this list for sure: Crowe, Garcia, Kieboom, Barrera and perhaps Gushue all seem likely to eventually make the 40-man.
NRI Details by year, in case you were wondering…
Summary of NRIs for 2019 (post season update): 18 total
- One (1) made the 25-man roster out of spring: Jake Noll
- Three (3) more eventually got added and called up: Aaron Barrett, Tres Barrera, Carter Kieboom
- Zero (0) others have since been added to 40-man (as of 2/6/20).
Summary of NRIs from ST 2018: 21 NRIs total:
- One (1) made the 25-man roster out of spring: Miguel Montero
- Four (4) eventually got added and called up: Tim Collins, Moises Sierra, Jimmy Cordero, Spencer Kieboom. Special Mention to Edwin Jackson, who opted out of Washington then excelled for Oakland later in 2018).
- Zero (0) others have since been added to 40-man
Summary of NRIs from ST 2017: 24 NRIs total:
- Zero (0) made the 25-man roster out of spring (though technically one kinda was; see next).
- Five (5) eventually got added and called up (Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Albers, Grant Green, Jacob Turner and Andrew Stevenson): Guthrie was the 5th starter, stashed in XST for a few days before his ill-fated debut.
- Five (5) have since been added to 40-man (Erick Fedde, Taylor Hill, Kyle McGowin, Wander Suero, Tim Collins)
Summary of NRIs from ST 2016: 20 NRIs total (plus perhaps a couple more that got signed late):
- Two (2) made the 25-man roster: (Chris Heisey and as noted in the comments, thanks for the correction, Matt Belisle).
- Two (2) eventually got added and called up (Lucas Giolito, Sean Burnett)
- Two (2) have since been added to 40-man (Matt Skole, Austin Voth)
Summary of NRIs from ST 2015: 20 NRIs total:
- Two (2) made the 25-man roster out of spring (Dan Uggla and Clint Robinson)
- Two (2) others eventually got added and called up (Rafael Martin and Emmanuel Burriss)
- Two (2) others were young catchers since added to the 40-man (Spencer Kieboom, Pedro Severino)
(I believe the above analysis is correct; feel free to comment if i’ve missed someone. this is a bit tougher to keep track of b/c the team often signs MLFAs mid-spring then technically gives them NRIs … especially for Vets, and I may miss some from the original announcements).