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On Friday, the Colorado Rockies announced 23 non-roster invitees for spring training. Of those 23, 10 are pitchers and 15 are position players. Per Patrick Lyons of , eight players have major league experience and the other 15 are prospects. While it is unlikely that non-roster invitees will earn a roster spot, there are always a few who make the Major League roster out of spring training every year. Below are four players going to spring training with the Rockies with the best chance to make the roster. have 23 players heading to Spring Training as non-roster invites. Colorado has 10 pitchers and 15 position players; eight have big league experience while 15 are prospects. Betancourt, Carrigg and Karros are the only three who haven't appeared in Double-A or higher. — Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) Notable Non-Roster Invitees to Rockies Spring Training Austin Nola - Catcher has played for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres for five years. The brother of Philadelphia Phillies ace , he is 35 and has played primarily catcher in his career, but can also play at second or third base. According to , he signed a minor league deal with the Rockies on December 8. In 2024, he signed a split contract with the Kansas City Royals but never reached the majors. Nola struggled in 191 plate appearances with Triple-A Omaha in 2024, hitting .174/.260/.298. In his last major league season in 2023 with the Padres, Nola hit .146/.260/.192 with one home run and eight RBI over 154 plate appearances. The best season of his career came in 2022 with the Padres, when he achieved a career-high 1.9 WAR. In 397 plate appearances, Nola hit .251/.321/.329 with four homers and 40 RBI. For his career, he has been a .249 hitter. He also struggled defensively in 2023, as he was worth -9 defensive runs saved. The Rockies re-signed veteran catcher this offseason and will look to give plenty of development opportunities. also saw time at catcher last season after the Rockies released . Stallings hit well for the Rockies last season and will be a whom the pitching staff is familiar with. Nola is one of four catchers invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee. However, Nola is the only one of the four with major league experience. Manager has utilized two veteran catchers on the roster in the past and could give Nola a reserve spot. Tommy Doyle - Reliever Right-hander spent 15 games with the Rockies in 2023. He struggled to pitch in the high altitude, recording a 6.85 ERA with 18 Ks/13 BBs. However, Doyle's ERA was inflated due to a forgettable performance against the Minnesota Twins on September 30, when he allowed four hits, three home runs, and two walks, resulting in six earned runs. He allowed 2 or fewer runs in 13 of his other 14 outings. Like many Rockies pitchers in 2024, Doyle struggled heavily with walks. To be successful at Coors Field, pitchers have to limit the free passes. It will be imperative for Doyle to show better control in spring training. As a non-roster invitee, one of the easiest paths to a roster spot is as a reliever due to the volatility of a bullpen throughout a season. Doyle also has the advantage of previous experience with the Rockies. If he can show better control and limit home runs in spring training, Doyle has an outside shot at a lower leverage role in the Rockies bullpen. Keston Hiura - Infielder signed a with the Rockies on January 15, per Feinsand. The signing drew a lot of attention for a minor league deal, due to Hiura's potentially being matched with Coors Field. In 1,084 career plate appearances, Hiura has 50 home runs but 390 strikeouts. This is one of the main reasons why he has been stuck in the minor leagues, playing in only 10 MLB games since 2022. Hiura is one of five infielders invited to Rockies spring training as non-roster invitees, but is one of only two with major league experience. Rockies hitting coach has said that strikeouts are something the Rockies will have to continue to work on, but they are easier to accept if it coincides with offensive production. Hiura fits that description to a tee. If he does not produce home runs, he will be out of a job quickly. But if he can access his immense power potential in spring training, he could be an intriguing option off the bench for Colorado in 2025. Nick Martini - Outfielder also signed a minor league deal with Colorado on January 15, per Feinsand. The 34-year-old has spent five years in the majors. In 52 games in 2024 with the Cincinnati Reds, Martini hit .212/.272/.370 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 163 PA. He is a major liability on defense, though, as he was worth -24 DRS while playing in right field in 2024. Paired with struggles offensively, Martini is a long shot to make the Rockies roster. However, Martini stands out as one of the players entering spring training with multiple years of MLB experience. The Rockies need a veteran bat off the bench since they released . They will have a entering spring training, and Mart...
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