Non-Roster Invitees To Watch In Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training

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Sep 29, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) looks on at the batting cage before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Finally, it is baseball season. Yay!

Ladies and gentlemen, baseball season is upon us. A day after pitchers and catchers reported to Bradenton, the Pittsburgh Pirates will hold their first workout of the spring this morning. After a long, boring, miserable winter it is once again time to hear the pop of a mitt and the crack of a bat.

The team’s first full squad workout will be on Friday. However, most of the players that have been invited to Spring Training are already in Bradenton. And this is always great to see.

As it is most years, the majority of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ roster is set as Spring Training approaches. But this will not stop players who do not have a spot on the 25-man roster from showing up to camp and competing.

Of the players showing up to Spring Training without a spot on the team, 23 of them are non-roster invitees. For those who do not know a non-roster invitee is a player who is not on the 40-man roster, but still gets an invite to Spring Training.

We have seen non-roster invitees make the Pirates’ roster in year’s past. The most recent being Matt Joyce last season. This season, however, I do not expect any of the non-roster invitees to make the team. But that does not mean there are not any non-roster invitees worth watching this spring, because that could not be further from the truth.

Jun 28, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (left) poses for a photograph with 2013 first round draft selection Austin Meadows (right) before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Outfielder Austin Meadows

Out of the Pirates’ 23 non-roster invitees this spring, none are as well known or talked about as Austin Meadows. Meadows is the Pirates’ top prospects, as well as being one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Over the weekend Meadows was named the sixth best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America.

Austin Meadows is a future star in the Major Leagues. He can hit for average, get on base, he is a plus defender in the outfield, he has above average speed, and should develop above average power. Meadows has the potential to be a true five-tool player.

I would expect Meadows to stick around in Big League camp for two or three weeks before being sent to Minor League camp. Even though that stay could be extended some due to the World Baseball Classic. Regardless of how long his stay in Major League camp lasts, it will be an opportunity for Meadows to improve his hitting ability against Major League quality pitching. Furthermore, it will give him the opportunity to work more extensively with Pirate hitting coach Jeff Branson to improve his craft.

While Austin Meadows has no chance of making the Pittsburgh Pirates’ roster out of Spring Training, it will still be fun to watch him compete and get some at bats against Major League pitching. I fully expect Meadows to reach the Major Leagues at some point in 2017 and to become a mainstay in the Pirate lineup in 2018. Spring Training will be a glimpse into the future of the Pirates’ outfield.

Shortstop Kevin Newman

The boat Kevin Newman is in is very similar to that of Austin Meadows. Newman is one of the Pirates’ top prospects, as well as being one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but he will start the 2017 season in the Minor Leagues.

Most likely, Kevin Newman will begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. If Newman can continue to hit the way he has throughout his Minor League career, he could hit his way to the Major Leagues this season. It would not surprise me if Kevin Newman was in the Major Leagues at some point this summer, especially if Jordy Mercer struggles.

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Not only will Newman’s offense be worth watching in Spring Training, but so will his defense. There have been some questions as to rather or not he will stick at shortstop long term. Due to this, I will be curious to see how he looks at shortstop this spring.

Kevin Newman’s stay in Major League camp may not be very long. Especially since the Pirates will not be losing anyone from their infield to the World Baseball Classic. However, Kevin Newman will be fun to watch and follow through the first few weeks of Spring Training.

No matter how Kevin Newman’s 2017 season shakes out I expect him to be a key member of the 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates. Due to this, Spring Training 2017 will be a glimpse into the future of the shortstop position for Pirate fans.

Pitcher Brandon Cumpton

During the 2013 season Brandon Cumpton came out of nowhere to make an impact for the Pirates. After a rash of injuries, Cumpton was promoted to the Major Leagues in June of 2013. When this happened he became the first member of the Pirates’ 2010 draft class to reach the Major Leagues.

Brandon Cumpton would go on to pitch in six games, five starts, for the 2013 Pirates. He pitched 30 2/3 innings averaging 6.46 K/9, 1.47 BB/9, and he allowed just one home run. Mix in a 54.3 percent ground ball rate and Cumpton finished the season with 2.62 FIP and a 3.40 xFIP in a small sample size.

After beginning the 2014 season at Triple-A, Cumpton would quickly find himself back in Pittsburgh. This time making 10 starts and pitching in 16 games. In 70 innings pitched in 2014 Cumpton averaged 5.91 K/9, 2.31 BB/9, and he allowed two home runs. This led to him posting a 3.22 FIP and a 3.98 xFIP.

However, due to injuries, Cumpton has not pitched since 2014. These injuries include Cumpton having undergone Tommy John Surgery following Spring Training in 2015.

Due to his stuff, Brandon Cumpton will never be more than a back end of the rotation starting pitcher. However, if healthy, he is a very good depth option to have. And Spring Training will be his chance to show if he is healthy or not.

I expect Brandon Cumpton to start the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. I would look for him to be in Indy’s rotation along with pitchers such as Tyler Glasnow, Nick Kingham, Trevor Williams, and Steven Brault.

Jul 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) speaks on the dugout phone before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

In Conclusion

Spring Training should be pretty drama free for the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. Other than the fifth starter and a bullpen spot or two, the 25-man roster is pretty set entering camp. However, there are still players worth watching.

Austin Meadows, Kevin Newman, and Brandon Cumpton are three non-roster invitees worth keeping an eye on over the course of the next month or so. At least, until they are sent to Minor League camp.

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It is possible that Austin Meadows, Kevin Newman, and Brandon Cumpton could all make an impact for the Pirates in 2017. For all three of these players, it starts as non-roster invitees in Spring Training.

Happy baseball season, everyone!

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