3 non-roster invites to watch during Blue Jays Spring Training

Spring training is right around the corner. Toronto Blue Jays pitchers and catchers will report to Dunedin, Florida, on February 11. The rest of the team will report on February 16. The first game will be on the 21st against the Philadelphia Phillies.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding the defending American League champions. The pitching staff received significant improvements with the additions of Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers. The offense additions were minimal, with only Kazuma Okamoto added. For a third straight offseason, the Blue Jays missed out on adding the top free agent. This time, it was Kyle Tucker, but they also missed out on re-signing Bo Bichette and adding Cody Bellinger.

With the few offensive additions, the Blue Jays will be counting on their in-house options. The Blue Jays' roster is pretty set, but there are a few minor leaguers to keep an eye on this season. The team announced its Spring Training non-roster invites on Wednesday. There were 20 players on the list with eight pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders, and one outfielder. Out of that list, here are three players that fans should get familiar with.

3 non-roster invites to watch during Blue Jays Spring Training

Arjun Nimmala - SS

Arjun Nimmala will be the big talk of Spring Training after the Blue Jays did not re-sign Bichette. Nimmala is the Blue Jays' number three prospect and the 68th MLB prospect. The prospect was the 20th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft. Nimmala is not projected to make his big league debut until 2028, but the invite will give the team a look at how he can handle the highest level of competition.

The 20-year-old played all of last season at the High-A level, where he slashed .224/.313/.381, and hit 13 home runs, scored 70 runs, and drove in 61 runs. Andrés Giménez will handle the shortstop position for the Blue Jays this season, where he is exceptional defensively but struggles with hitting.

The Blue Jays have Ernie Clement, who can man the position if Giménez struggles offensively or is injured again. However, if Nimmala can prove that he can handle MLB pitchers, his debut may come sooner if needed.

Greg Stanifer - RHP

Greg Stanifer was selected in the 19th round of the 2022 MLB draft. As a starting pitcher, he possesses a 94-97 mph fastball. a low-80s breaking ball, and mid-80s changeup. He struggled in Rookie and Single-A levels during his first two minor league seasons, posting a 6.33 and 6.34 ERAs in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

However, last season he shined in 26 relief innings in Single-A, posting a 0.69 ERA and 76 innings combined starting and in relief at the High-A level, posting a 3.20 ERA. The righty finished the season with Double-A Vancouver but struggled over eight innings starting games, posting a 6.75 ERA.

He has succeeded at striking batters with 272 strikeouts over 212.1 career minor-league innings. One thing Stanifer needs to work on is his control. He’s walked 131 batters during that timespan. If he can show improvements this season, he could follow the Trey Yesavage route and be a significant late-season addition for the Blue Jays. He’s the highest-rated right-handed Blue Jays pitcher (number six prospect) behind Yesavage.

RJ Schreck - OF

RJ Schreck was selected in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners. He joined the Blue Jays organization in the 2024 trade that sent the Mariners Justin Turner. Schreck spent time at all four levels of the minor leagues last season, where he slashed .249/.395/.459 with 18 home runs, 62 runs, and 53 RBIs combined.

Schreck is currently the 10th-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays' farm system, but the outfield is crowded with George Springer, Addison Barger, Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, and Myles Straw, all projected to make the 26-man roster. Plus, Schreck is behind fellow prospects Yohendrick Pinango and Victor Arias.

Schreck's one advantage over his fellow outfield prospects is that he’s 25, two and three years older than Pinango and Arias, respectively. Schreck is a left-handed hitter with great plate discipline. Last season, he walked 70 times, compared to 91 strikeouts. He’s the only outfielder to receive a non-roster invite to Spring Training, which means if he performs well, he may be the next man up in case of an injury. With Santander and Varsho’s injury histories, Schreck’s MLB debut may become sooner than expected.

Opening Day for the Blue Jays is March 27 against the Athletics at the Rogers Centre. Followed by the Colorado Rockies visiting town, and then a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago. The Blue Jays have a great chance to start the season 9-0 before a rematch with the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.