Big league camp opens with 27 non-roster invitees

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Sixty-seven players (27 of those non-roster invitees) will participate in big league camp for the Nationals this spring, a list that includes a combination of familiar names of the past and newcomers looking to make a name for themselves for the first time.

With the first official workout of spring training underway this afternoon, the Nats announced their full list of non-roster invitees to major league camp. Among those here are 11 players who have been in the majors with the team before: pitchers Sean Doolittle, Andres Machado, Evan Lee, Jackson Tetreault, Francisco Perez, Alberto Baldonado and Tommy Romero; first baseman Matt Adams; infielder Lucius Fox; and outfielders Yadiel Hernández and Donovan Casey.

Doolittle, who returns on a minor league deal after missing the majority of 2022 with an elbow injury, and Adams, who is back with the club three years after winning a World Series ring, are familiar veterans hoping to force their way onto the Opening Day roster.

The others all were in the big leagues at some point in the last two seasons but were designated for assignment and dropped off the 40-man roster. They’ll now attempt to make it back, albeit as non-roster invitees.

The Nationals added several veterans this winter with major league experience on minor league contracts, headlined by pitchers Wily Peralta, Alex Colomé and Chad Kuhl; plus infielder Michael Chavis.

Other non-roster invitees include left-hander Anthony Banda; right-handers Zach Brzykcy, Gerardo Carrillo, Anthony Castro and Hobie Harris; catchers Brady Lindsly and Drew Millas; infielders Erick Mejia and Leonel Valera; and outfielders Yasel Antuna, Travis Blankenhorn and Derek Hill.

Here’s the full roster of 67 to begin spring training …

PITCHERS (37): Cory Abbott, Joan Adon, Victor Arano, Alberto Baldonado, Anthony Banda, Zach Brzykcy, Gerardo Carrillo, Anthony Castro, Cade Cavalli, Alex Colomé, Patrick Corbin, Matt Cronin, Sean Doolittle, Carl Edwards Jr., Paolo Espino, Jose Ferrer, Kyle Finnegan, MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Hobie Harris, Hunter Harvey, Jake Irvin, Chad Kuhl, Evan Lee, Andres Machado, Wily Peralta, Francisco Perez, Tanner Rainey, Erasmo Ramirez, Tommy Romero, Jackson Rutledge, Stephen Strasburg, Jackson Tetreault, Mason Thompson, Thad Ward, Jordan Weems, Trevor Williams

CATCHERS (5): Riley Adams, Brady Lindsly, Drew Millas, Israel Pineda, Keibert Ruiz

INFIELDERS (14): CJ Abrams, Matt Adams, Jake Alu, Jeimer Candelario, Michael Chavis, Jeter Downs, Lucius Fox, Luis Garcia, Carter Kieboom, Erick Mejia, Joey Meneses, Dominic Smith, Leonel Valera, Ildemaro Vargas

OUTFIELDERS (11): Yasel Antuna, Travis Blankenhorn, Alex Call, Donovan Casey, Jeremy De La Rosa, Corey Dickerson, Stone Garrett, Yadiel Hernandez, Derek Hill, Victor Robles, Lane Thomas