Cardinals invite 27 non-roster players to spring training

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals announced 27 non-roster invitees to spring training, per a news release on Monday.

Two highlight invitees include award winners in the Texas League from the 2025 season. They are league MVP and Cardinals MiLB Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt and Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson.

Eight acquisitions during the previous season and in the offseason will be reporting for duty next month:

• Pitchers: Scott Blewett (RHP), Skylar Hales (RHP), Gerson Moreno (RHP), Jared Shuster (LHP), Bruce Zimmermann (LHP)
• Infield: Blaze Jordan (1B), Andy Yerzy (C)
• Outfield: Nelson Velázquez

Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first major league camp:

• Pitchers: Luis Gastelum (RHP), Pete Hansen (LHP), Henderson (LHP), Austin Love (RHP), Hancel Rincón (RHP)
• Infield: Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, Brody Moore, Graysen Tarlow (C), Yerzy (C)
• Outfield: Mike Antico

2025 camp participants are also returning, including:

• Pitchers: Quinn Mathews (LHP), Max Rajcic (RHP), Sem Robberse * (RHP), Zack Thompson * (LHP)
• Infield: Carlos Linárez (C), Jeremy Rivas, Wetherholt
• Outfield: Chase Davis, Matt Koperniak

Left-handed pitcher Packy Naughton pitched for the Cardinals in 2022 and 2023 before being sidelined with an arm injury. Naughton will be among four non-roster invitees with major league experience, including:

• Blewett (KC Royals, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves)
• Shuster (Braves, Chicago White Sox)
• Velázquez (Chicago Cubs, Royals)
• Zimmerman (Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers)

Pitchers and catchers will report to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., for their first practice on Thursday, February 12. The first full squad workout will be on Monday, February 16.

The 27 non-roster invitees bring the Spring Training roster to 67, including the regular 40-player roster, as shown below.

* signifies that a player previously listed above is currently injured

Jake Leonard, Executive Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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