8 pitchers among non-roster players invited to Pirates Spring Training
This browser does not support the video element.
The Pirates announced Monday that 13 players who signed Minor League contracts this offseason are being invited to Major League Spring Training.
The list of non-rostered players going to Bradenton, Fla., consists of right-handed pitchers Carson Fulmer, Isaac Mattson, Tanner Rainey, Yohan Ram¨ªrez, Yerry Rodr¨ªguez, Burch Smith, Hunter Stratton and Eddy Yean; infielders Darick Hall, Malcolm Nu?ez and Nick Solak; outfielder Bryce Johnson and catcher Abrahan Gutierrez.
This is the first set of players whose invitation to Major League Spring Training has been formally announced. There will be more batches of non-roster invites announced in the weeks ahead.
A handful of these players have already appeared in a Pirates uniform. Stratton recorded a 3.58 ERA over 36 appearances with the Pirates last season before rupturing the patellar tendon in his left knee in August. He is likely to be able to return in-season, and while the Pirates non-tendered him from the 40 man roster this offseason, they quickly agreed to a Minor League deal to keep him in the system.
This browser does not support the video element.
Mattson was promoted to the Pirates last September before also being removed from the roster and returning on a non-guaranteed deal. Ram¨ªrez pitched parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Pittsburgh.
Fulmer, 31, has technically also had stops in Pittsburgh, having been claimed off waivers by the Pirates twice in 2020, though he did not appear in a game. The eight-year vet went 0-5 with a 4.15 ERA over 86 2/3 innings with the Angels last year.
Three players have been in the farm system for several years but have not reached the Majors: Yean, Nu?ez and Gutierrez. Yean recorded a 4.20 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 75 innings last season at two levels, mostly Double-A Altoona. He received an invitation after the season to the Arizona Fall League, where he allowed seven earned runs over 9 1/3 innings. Nu?ez slashed .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs and 65 RBIs, splitting time at first and third base for Triple-A Indianapolis. Gutierrez appeared in 49 Minor League games last season, mostly with Altoona.
This browser does not support the video element.
None of those prospects rank in MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 30 for the organization.
Rainey, a 32-year-old vet with seven years of MLB experience, recorded a 4.76 ERA over 50 games with the Nationals last season, striking out 44 over 51 innings. Rodr¨ªguez, 27, has appeared in 30 Major League games with the Rangers and Blue Jays the past three seasons. Smith, 34, recorded a 4.95 ERA over 50 games with the Marlins and Orioles in 2024 after making stops in Japan and Korea the previous two years.
Hall, 29, hit 10 home runs with a .700 OPS across 59 games with the Phillies in 2022 and ¡®23 but did not appear in the Majors last season, when he slashed .236/.320/.387 with 16 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Phillies¡¯ Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley. Solak, who turned 30 on Saturday, has 255 games of Major League experience, but also did not reach the Majors in 2024. Johnson, 29, recorded a .524 OPS in 73 plate appearances with the Padres last season but did much better in the Minors (.289 batting average, .838 OPS and 20 stolen bases for Triple-A El Paso).
The Pirates will open up their Spring Training schedule on the road against the Orioles on Feb. 22, while their first home game will be against the Twins at LECOM Park on Feb. 23.