Spring Scouting: NL East Non-Roster Invitees
Who is going to make a splash this Spring?
Introduction
Welcome to my fourth installment of “Spring Scouting” which aims to highlight any intriguing Spring Training players or storylines. This article will cover NL East Non-Roster Invitees (NRI) ranging from Top Prospects to potential breakout candidates heading into the 2025 season.
To help with my research, I created a Shiny App that generates the Spring Training Roster (including NRI) for each team
Let’s get started!
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Enoli Paredes - RHP
Paredes was signed to a MiLB contract after an effective 2024 which saw him post a sub-2 ERA across 53.1 IP in MLB and AAA. The biggest hinderance in Paredes’ profile is his poor command which limits his K upside and causes him to allow too many walks. He wields an intriguing cut-fastball and exhibits a strong ability to generate spin. It will be interesting to see how the Braves utilize his skillset.
Drake Baldwin - C
Drake Baldwin continued his rapid ascent toward the top of prospect lists after he crushed AAA pitching last season. His offensive profile is great all-around and is supported by elite power and a great approach. The Braves have developed him to be their catcher of the future, and this Spring great showcase of that.
Miami Marlins
Robby Snelling - LHP
It was a rough 2024 season for Snelling as he heavily struggled his home runs and his command didn’t take that next step as many scouts were hoping. His season changed for the better after he was traded to the Marlins at the deadline as part of the Tanner Scott trade. Snelling immediately started looking more comfortable on the mound and his BB% gradually dropped. He ended the season in AAA at the ripe age of 20 where his fastball looked excellent. This is a big year for Snelling, and a great Spring should kick that off.
Read my scouting report on Robby Snelling here.
Josh Ekness - RHP
Josh Ekness is a strikeout fiend that could impact the Marlins bullpen this season. His fastball is bonkers, sitting in the high 90s with a ton of movement from his low slot. He pairs it with a sweeping slider that averages nearly 10” of horizontal movement. He ran an elite 31.0 K% across 66.0 IP last season and his stuff backs it up!
New York Mets
Brandon Sproat - RHP
Sproat flew through the Mets MiLB system last season before stumbling a bit in his short AAA stint. His arsenal is headlined by a blistering high 90s fastball that hits triple digits and a devasting changeup which exhibits incredible depth. It seemed like Sproat ran out of gas neat the end of his season as his velocity and effectiveness dwindled. With a full offseason to recover it will be awesome to see how Sproat comes out firing this Spring.
Blade Tidwell - RHP
Tidwell was promptly rewarded with a promotion to AAA after a strong start to his AA season. In AAA, Tidwell struggled to throw strikes and limit home runs which made many analysts and scouts, including myself, question his future as a starter. The biggest thing going for Tidwell is his incredibly deep arsenal. He tosses 7 different pitches, with a handful of them grading out well. The Mets pitching development is fully of savvy minds and I am optimistic that they’ll help Tidwell tap into his potential.
Jett Williams - SS
Williams is in the conversation of being the Mets #1 prospect and he has a medley of tools to back it up. His speed and defensive capabilities are great and he supports them with a solid eye. Despite being one of the smallest prospects in baseball, Williams has shown an ok ability to generate power. He didn’t hit a single HR in an injury filled 2024, so hopefully he can get off on the right foot in Spring Training.
Drew Gilbert - CF
Gilbert was the key piece that came back in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros in 2023. It was a season to forget for Gilbert in 2024 as he struggled mightily in AAA. His power metrics were lacklustre and he ran a below average BB%. The most encouraging aspect of his season was his ability to pull fly balls, which should help him tap into his limited power.
Philadelphia Phillies
Andrew Painter - RHP
It’s been a long-time coming for Andrew Painter after having both his 2023 and 2024 season wiped out following TJS. We got a glimpse of his stuff in the Arizona Fall league and it was magnificent. His velocity wasn’t back to his 2022 levels, but his breaking balls store through batters and he effortlessly threw strikes. I ranked Painter as my #2 pitching prospect in MLB and he will very likely make his debut later this summer. Although he won’t be pitching in Spring Training games, we should get plenty of updates throughout.
Read my scouting report on Andrew Painter here.
Aidan Miller - SS
Aidan Miller moved quickly through the Phillies system in 2024, finishing the season with a short stint in AA. The 2023 1st round pick proved that the lower minors were no match for him as he exhibited above average power and a great eye which led to a 133 wRC+ on the season. His tendency to pull fly balls helps his already solid power play up.
Washington Nationals
Jarlin Susana - RHP
Susana flew up prospect lists last season after he exhibited refined command. His stuff was always top tier as his arsenal is jam packed with triple digit fastballs and wicked breaking balls. He has the tools to be the hardest throwing starter in the majors and the sky is the limit if his strike throwing ability holds as he progresses through MiLB.
Read my Jarlin Susana scouting report here.
Brady House - 3B
Brady House’s prospect ranking has greatly fluctuated over the past few seasons. His power is his driving tool, but his biggest flaw has always been his contact woes. Despite the lofty power grades, House struggled greatly to display his high-end strength in AAA with a paltry 109.1 MPH Max EV. His aggressive was a great sign, but it led to a putrid 3.0 BB% and a ton of strikeouts. Spring Training will be his next shot to prove he has the makings of a Top Prospect.
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