More on Orioles spring training invitees as report dates near

The 26 players announced as non-roster invitees to spring training weren’t on a locked list of names. The Orioles had the freedom to expand it, which they did after infielder Luis Vázquez cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Reliever Dylan Coleman announced his signing to a minor league deal on Instagram, the Orioles confirmed it and he’s an invite. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera cleared waivers, was outrighted and also received an invitation. And there could be more.

Here’s the updated list:

Pitchers

Raúl Alcantara
Justin Armbruester
Matt Bowman
Dylan Coleman
Jakob Hernandez
Yaramil Hiraldo
Corbin Martin
Robinson Martinez
Levi Stoudt
Carlos Tavera
Thaddeus Ward
Nathan Webb

Catchers

Silas Ardoin
David Bañuelos
Samuel Basallo
Maverick Handley

Infielders

Nick Gordon
Jeremiah Jackson
Vimael Machin
Emmanuel Rivera
Liván Soto
Terrin Vavra
Luis Vázquez

Outfielders

Jordyn Adams
Franklin Barreto
Dylan Beavers
Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Jud Fabian

Basallo, Bradfield, Beavers and Fabian are the biggest names in the bunch. Bowman could be a dark horse to make the team after registering a 3.45 ERA in 15 appearances. His reasons for staying in the organization will be explained beyond being a Chevy Chase native.

The Orioles signed Webb to a two-year minor league contract in October 2023 because he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. He underwent surgery in May to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, just as the Orioles were prepared to assign him to an affiliate.

Soto is on a wild ride since the Orioles acquired him from the Reds with outfielder Austin Slater at the trade deadline. He’s optioned multiple times, recalled multiple times, designated for assignment on Jan. 10, outrighted on the 17^th. The Orioles could use him as infield depth. He could be the first man up if there’s an injury to a utility player.

Vavra has signed back twice with the Orioles since the Mariners selected him on waivers on Aug. 23. He broke camp with the team in 2023 after hitting .348/.392/.565 with two doubles, a triple and two home runs in 16 games.

Rivera agreed to a $1 million deal to avoid arbitration after batting .313 with a .948 OPS in 27 games and hitting four home runs. He's a corner infield possibility if space opens.

Ward made 26 relief appearances with the Nationals in 2023 and 28 starts last summer with Triple-A Rochester. He was a waiver claim on Nov. 4 and outrighted Dec. 6.

Corbin Martin brings more major league experience in years with a combined 17 appearances from (2019-22). The Astros drafted him in the second round in 2017 with Mike Elias in the front office.

The Orioles selected Martin on waivers from the Brewers on May 13 and he posted a 4.05 ERA in 29 relief appearances, with 21 walks but only one home run surrendered in 33 1/3 innings.

Gordon was a Twins first-round pick in 2014, the fifth overall selection, and he’s the son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of infielder Dee Strange-Gordon. That’s worth at least two questions right there. And he’s appeared in 338 games from 2021-24.

Adams was the 17^th overall selection by the Angels in 2018 who brings 28 games worth of major league experience over the past two seasons. Stoudt, a third-rounder of the Mariners in 2019, got into four games with the Reds in 2023.

There’s bound to be some omissions that jump off the page. The Orioles can’t bring an overflow into the baseball operations building. Only so many lockers to go around. And only so many innings and at-bats.

I thought we might see right-hander Patrick Reilly, the No. 16 prospect in the system in Baseball America’s latest rankings and No. 13 in the MLB Pipeline rankings that need to be updated for 2025. The Orioles acquired him from the Pirates for minor league outfielder Billy Cook at the trade deadline and he posted a 3.73 ERA in eight games with Double-A Bowie. He also averaged 5.2 walks and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Trace Bright, ranked No. 17 by Baseball America and No. 11 by Pipeline, also is ticketed for minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park. Joining him is pitcher Alex Pham (26^th and 24^th), infielder Max Wagner (22^nd in Pipeline) and catcher Creed Willems (21^st in Pipeline).

Other prospects are deemed too young and inexperienced at the professional level.