D-backs Announce 26 Non-Roster Invitees for Spring Training

Arizona will carry 66 players when camp opens up on February 14th.

The Diamondbacks have announced that they have invited 26 non-roster players to participate in big league Spring Training, meaning there will be a total of 66 players when camp starts. Here is the full list of players:

See you at @SaltRiverFields, fellas. 🌵 pic.twitter.com/lKMkkM9P4Z

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 1, 2024

This list includes both prospects and minor league free agent signings during the offseason. 

Notable Prospects

Arizona will have four players from our list of the organization's Top 30 prospects participating in Spring Training.

Lin ranks 5th in our Top 30 D-backs Prospects list, as a 20-year-old pitcher who lacks velocity but has impressive secondary stuff and an advanced feel on using it to his advantage. He is expected to spend most of the season with Triple-A Reno, but could debut late in the season.

Ivan Melendez is the most interest position player of this group, as someone who has big strengths and weaknesses. In 96 games, the D-backs No. 9 prospect hit 30 home runs and batted better than .270 in both High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo. However he also has a major swing-and-miss problem that threatens to cap his ceiling as a slugger. Originally a first baseman in college, the organization has been playing him at third base more frequently with 58 of his 95 starts coming at the hot corner.

A.J. Vukovich is coming off a strong year with Amarillo. The D-backs No. 15 prospect hit .263 with 24 home runs and a franchise-record 96 RBI. It still came at the caveat of a 28% strikeout rate vs. a 9% walk rate, the latter being a career-high. Vukovich is a free-swinger, but successfully made the transition from third base to the outfield last season. He profiles as a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder who's best suited for a corner role but could moonlight in center field due to his athleticism.

Kristian Robinson will participate in his first big league Spring Training despite being on the 40-man roster for parts of two seasons. Robinson missed out on three years due to both the pandemic cancelling the 2020 minor league season and a felony assault conviction from an April 2020 incident. In his first year back, the D-backs No. 20 prospect played at four different levels and put up pretty respectable numbers with some very concerning red flags. Once considered the organization's top prospect before those issues, the talent is still very much there considering how successful he was. 2024 will be a big year for him in terms of working his way back onto the 40-man roster.

Notable Minor League Free Agents

Tucker Barnhart will be one of the catchers competing for the backup job. A glove-first catcher with two Gold Gloves on his résumé, he gives the team a veteran backup option and could possibly mentor upcoming star Gabriel Moreno. While not a great bat at any point of his career, his production has slipped the past 3-4 years. He may get the potential nod at first, with Herrera still holding one option on his contract. Barnhart was signed on January 2nd.

Kevin Newman is another minor league signing who could have a clear path to the Opening Day roster. The former University of Arizona shortstop (2013-2015) and 2015 first rounder could fill the right-handed half of the platoon at the position with incumbent starter Geraldo Perdomo. Over the last two seasons, he's put up an OPS north of .800 against southpaws with decent strikeout and walk numbers as well.

Andres Chaparro could be a dark horse candidate to appear for the D-backs during the 2024 season. A right-handed power bat with experience at both corner infield positions, his offensive numbers slipped a bit in Triple-A with the Yankees, and with no path to their major league roster, elected free agency. Based off his 2023 playing record, he logged more starts at third (69) than first (56). Most likely he plays third with Triple-A Reno due to the presence of Tristin English at first.

Left-handers Jose Castillo and Brandon Hughes are arms that have had past success at the major league level, but struggled with injuries. Castillo elected free agency and signed with Arizona on December 4th and Hughes was non-tendered by the Cubs despite being arbitration eligible after struggling with knee issues for most of 2023 before electing to get surgery. Hughes was listed as one of three potential non-tendered players the D-backs should try to sign.

Spring Training begins with pitchers and catchers reporting on February 14th, followed up by full squad workouts on the 19th. Down below on the card has a list of key dates over the next two months.

Diamondbacks Announce 2024 Spring Training Dates