photo: Nelson Velázquez (USA TODAY Sports)
Among 27 non-roster invitees to St. Louis Cardinals spring camp are 10 members of The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 Prospect List for 2026, including two in the top four – infielder JJ Wetherholt and pitcher Quinn Mathews. The club also signed a veteran right-handed hitting outfielder.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced 27 non-roster invitees to 2026 Spring Training camp today (Monday, January 26).
Highlighting the list of those set to report to Jupiter the second week of February are 2025 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt and 2025 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson.
Eight players who were acquired this offseason or after the start of last season will report with the big leaguers: RHP Scott Blewett, RHP Skylar Hales, 1B Blaze Jordan, RHP Gerson Moreno, LHP Jared Shuster, OF Nelson Velázquez, C Andy Yerzy and LHP Bruce Zimmermann.
Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first Major League camp including pitchers Luis Gastelum, Pete Hansen, Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón; catchers Graysen Tarlow and Yerzy; infielders Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, and Brody Moore; and outfielder Mike Antico.
2024 MiLB & Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews returns to St. Louis’ spring roster along with other members who were in camp last season including pitchers Max Rajcic, Sem Robberse and Zack Thompson; catcher Carlos Linárez; infielders Jeremy Rivas and Wetherholt; and outfielders Chase Davis and Matt Koperniak.
Left-handed pitcher Packy Naughton, who pitched for St. Louis in 2022 and 2023 before being sidelined for most of the past two seasons with an arm injury, will also be in Major League camp. Four other non-roster invitees will enter Cardinals camp with Major League experience, including Blewett (Royals, Twins, Orioles, Braves), Shuster (Braves, White Sox), Velázquez (Cubs, Royals) and Zimmerman (Orioles, Brewers).
Following is a positional list of non-roster invite players:
PITCHERS (15): Scott Blewett (RHP), Luis Gastelum (RHP), Skylar Hales (RHP), Pete Hansen (LHP), Ixan Henderson (LHP), Austin Love (RHP), Quinn Mathews (LHP), Gerson Moreno (RHP), Packy Naughton (LHP), Max Rajcic (RHP), Hancel Rincón, (RHP), Sem Robberse* (RHP), Jared Shuster (LHP), Zack Thompson* (LHP), Bruce Zimmermann (LHP)
CATCHERS (3): Carlos Linárez, Graysen Tarlow, Andy Yerzy
INFIELDERS (5): Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, Brody Moore, Jeremy Rivas, JJ Wetherholt
OUTFIELDERS (4): Mike Antico, Chase Davis, Matt Koperniak, Nelson Velázquez
*Injured
Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Thursday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 16.
The 27 non-roster invitees brings the Cardinals’ Spring Training roster to 67 players. Attached is the Cardinals 40-player roster with invitees.
Invites sent.
Pitchers and catchers report in 15 days 🌴⚾️ pic.twitter.com/tkVoiZEC1R
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 26, 2026
Brian Walton’s take
The group of 27 NRIs include 10 members of The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 Prospects for 2026, including two of the top four.
| TCN Top 50 Ranking | 2026 NRI |
| 1 | JJ Wetherholt |
| 4 | Quinn Mathews |
| 12 | Ixan Henderson |
| 21 | Luis Gastelum |
| 24 | Hancel Rincon |
| 26 | Chase Davis |
| 30 | Blaze Jordan |
| 32 | Pete Hansen |
| 44 | Max Rajcic |
| 47 | Matt Koperniak |
Note the new name among the NRI outfielders listed above. Nelson Velázquez is a 27-year-old Puerto Rican native who has played in the minor and major leagues since being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round in 2017.
In July 2023, the Cubs traded Velázquez to the Kansas City Royals.
The right-handed hitter played in 194 big league games for the Cubs and Royals in 2022-2024, with a slash line of .212/.286/.433/.719. He hit 31 home runs and plated 87 in 615 career plate appearances. His MLB strikeout rate is 28.8% and walk rate 8.5%.
Kansas City outrighted Velázquez to the minors in March 2025 and released him in May. He played in Mexico until September, when he was signed to a minor league contract by the Pirates. Following the season, he returned to minor league free agency.
In 221 career games at the Triple-A level, Velázquez slashed .234/.321/.456/.777, hit 40 home runs and drove in 123. His K rate at the highest level of the minors is 27.0% and walk rate is 10.9%.
This winter, Velázquez was a Puerto Rico Winter League All-Star and should be playing for Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Caribbean Series.
My personal hope is that Velázquez is not the only right-handed hitting outfielder to be added by the Cardinals this offseason.
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