Nonroster invitees may surprise
Little intrigue surrounds the Astros’ opening day roster. Most can pencil in 24 or 25 names before the first spring training pitch is thrown. One bullpen spot is up for grabs. A battle among some position players for the final bench spot could manifest, too. Otherwise, barring injury, the roster is entrenched.
Still, spring training affords opportunities for players to put themselves on the major league radar. If 2020 proved anything, internal depth is crucial. The Astros used 15 rookie pitchers and put Chas McCormick on a playoff roster despite never having appeared in a major league game.
McCormick made a strong impression in Class AAA during the 2019 season but sealed his fate with a fine showing as a nonroster invitee during the truncated 2020 spring training. Other players like Brandon Bielak, Cristian Javier and Taylor Jones made the most of their nonroster invitations in the last few years.
Here are five nonroster invitees to keep an eye on when the Astros begin fullsquad workouts Feb. 22:
Pedro Leon
Leon already has assumed a mythical-like aura among Astros fans. Hype is somewhat warranted, given his large signing bonus and lofty ranking in the latest international signing class. But assuming he will make the opening day roster — or even make his major league debut in 2021 — is far-fetched. Senior scouting adviser Charlie Gonzalez did claim Leon will be a “rapid mover,” but bear in mind that Leon is only 23 and hasn’t played baseball in more than a year. Leon’s time in big league camp will give Astros coaches and staff a better sense of his makeup, strengths and deficiencies. Perhaps he impresses. But the expectations from some outsiders already are enormous.
Steve Cishek
No nonroster invitee has a better chance of cracking the Astros’ opening day roster than Cishek, a 34-yearold sidearmer with 132 career saves. Cishek signed a minor league deal earlier this month but will make $2.25 million if he makes the major league club in spring training. Cishek’s arm angle, durability and career-long success against righthanded hitters make him an ideal candidate to join Houston’s bullpen. Cishek has a 2.78 ERA in 576 career innings with a 1.163 WHIP. He’ll ostensibly have to battle returning reliever Andre Scrubb — who walked 20 hitters in 232⁄3 innings last season — for the final spot. But, if the Astros decide to include a multi-inning long man on their opening day roster, Bryan Abreu, Brandon Bielak and Luis Garcia could enter the competition.
Brett Conine
After cycling through a major league record 15 rookie pitchers last season, the Astros desperately need to replenish the rotation depth in their upper minor leagues. Bielak and Garcia got their feet wet in the big leagues last year after turning heads during spring training and summer camp. Conine could be on a similar trajectory. He spent the 2020 season in the Astros’ 60-man player pool and throwing at their alternate training site. Conine has the best control of any pitcher in the Astros’ minor league system, walking just 40 hitters in 146 professional innings. He’s a former closer who has been clocked anywhere from 9096 mph with his four-seam fastball, possesses a solid changeup as an out pitch and has made substantial progress with his curveball. Conine’s ability to fill the strike zone has impressed the Astros. If the former reliever can harness his fastball velocity consistently and continue with pinpoint control, he’s a depth rotation piece sooner than later.
Colin Barber
The Astros’ dearth of outfielders is obvious. They only have four on their 40man roster. Myles Straw could be pushed by nonroster invitee Jose Siri in center and McCormick may have to fend off Steven Souza Jr. for the fourth outfielder spot. But, in a broader sense, the team must find more internal depth. Barber, a fourth-round pick in 2019, turned heads during instructional league play in 2020. Barber signed for $600,000 over slot value in 2019, demonstrating the organizational faith in him. He has just 119 plate appearances in affiliated ball but has some of the highest exit velocities and pure power in the organization. The team has worked with the lefthanded-hitting Barber on reducing his rollover ground balls to the right side and covering more of the strike zone with his swing. What sets Barber apart is his work ethic and focus, traits that some in the organization have compared to Alex Bregman.
Hunter Brown
Drafted one round after Barber in 2019, Brown is becoming the Astros’ latest developmental darling. The hard-throwing righthander sat 95-97 mph during instructional league play last year and spun a curveball that drew some comparisons to Tyler Glasnow. Brown attended Wayne State and has just 232⁄3 innings in affiliated ball. His control was somewhat suspect in 2019 — he walked 18 and threw five wild pitches — but the pure stuff could be dominating. Brown’s first appearance in major league camp could accelerate his development.