2023 first-round selection tops Blue Jays’ non-roster Spring Training list

Lost amidst the chaos of a period that saw Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Cody Bellinger all sign free-agent deals with teams other than the Toronto Blue Jays is the fact that spring training is about one month away.

Though a lot of the 26-man and 40-man roster is set, there are still a few spots waiting to be claimed, particularly on the bench and in the bullpen.

Though it's more likely that players already on the 40-man will earn those jobs, spring training is usually good for a fun non-roster story or two. And, given the names the Blue Jays are inviting to camp this year, it wouldn't be a shock to see one of those fun stories win a job in the Opening Day lineup.

Blue Jays release internal 2026 non-roster invite list, featuring Arjun Nimmala

Note that this is just the internal non-roster invite list; it doesn't include minor-league signings from the offseason such as Rafael Lantigua or Eloy Jimenez. That being said, it's still an impressive group of players, headlined by top prospect Arjun Nimmala.

A Top-100 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Nimmala was the team's first-round pick in 2023. He had an impressive first full season in 2024, producing a 121 wRC+ in 82 games at Single-A Dunedin. Things didn't go quite as well last year, when the 20-year-old hit .224/.313/.381 (92 wRC+) in High-A, though his advanced plate approach (10.1% walk rate) and impressive power-speed blend (13 homers, 17 steals) stole the show.

He's not expected to crack to the MLB roster for some time, but with Bichette out of the picture, his path toward becoming the second baseman of the future in Toronto is clear.

Other notable non-roster invitees include Yariel Rodriguez, who has pitched 159 2/3 inning with the Jays to the tune of a 3.83 ERA since the start of the 2024 season; Michael Plassymer, who has struck out more than 21% of hitters in the major leagues; Edward Duran, one of the team's top catching prospects; and Josh Kasevich, a second-round pick in 2022. You can find the full list here, courtesy of Sportsnet.

Again, none of these players are particularly likely to crack the Opening Day roster, but plenty of the non-prospect types have ample MLB experience. If nothing else, spring training will provide Jays fans a fun opportunity to see Nimmala back in action alongside the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.