Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

Odds of St. Louis Cardinals' Top 5 Non-Roster Invitees Making the 2014 Roster

Posted Friday, February 7, 2014, at 7:13 AM

By COREY NOLES

With the Super Bowl now in the past and trucks already being shipped to Florida and Arizona filled with baseball gear, it's time to officially start thinking about baseball season again.

While spring training will be filled with all of the usual suspects--Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and Adam Wainwright to name a few--there will also be a number of new faces.

On Jan. 21, 2014, the Cardinals announced a total of 18 non-roster invitees that would be joining the squad at its camp in Jupiter, Fla.

Non-roster invitees can be either players already within the organization, or individuals outside the organization given a spring training invitation in an effort to allow them a chance to prove themselves to the front office. At that point, the hope would be to earn a major league contract.

While the Cardinals have a number of full positions, they also have several positions where they could possibly bring in backup assistant. It's likely an additional pitcher or two will make their way into the roster, and a backup fielder, whether infield or outfield, could also find themselves in the mix for a position.

Will those lucky players be NRIs? The answer to that questions can't yet be known.

For the sake of this piece, I selected who I believe to be the five NRIs with a chance at making the major league team. Following are their odds for making the 25-man active roster from spring training.

5. Patrick Wisdom, IF

Highest Level: A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals

2013 Stats: .235/.313/.401, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 24 2B

Patrick Wisdom, a 23-year-old third baseman drafted in 2012, has shown promise since leaving St. Mary's College in California to find his home in professional baseball.

While he is still new to the program, Wisdom was drafted higher than even he expected. He struggled a bit with the transition to professional baseball, but should find himself taking at least one more step up the organizational ladder this spring.

As a result, odds are slim that he would make an impression significant enough to find himself on either the active or even the 40-man roster. In 2015, that story could quickly change.

200/1

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4. Marco Gonzales, LHP

Highest Level: A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals

2013 Stats: 2.70 ERA, 23.1 IP, 23K, .212 BA

Marco Gonzales, a left-handed pitcher drafted by the Cardinals early in 2013, has the potential to be a high upside selection.

Gonzales pitched and played first base for Gonzaga University, where he played until joining the Cardinals organization.

While he has never pitched above High-A ball, he's shown promise at the level early. Thanks to his college career, he has a leg up on some of the younger pitchers, but a roster spot out of spring training is still a longshot in 2014.

There's an off-chance he could have an impact late in the season, but even the odds of that are slim.

80/1

--

3. Xavier Scruggs, IF

Highest Level: Double-A Springfield Cardinals

2013 Stats: .248/.376/.487, 29 HR, 81 RBI, 11 SB

While Xavier Scruggs has been a bit off the radar for many Cardinals fans, his invite to spring training is much deserved.

His 2013 performance in Springfield showed the makings of a power hitter who could be of value to the big league club if there was a need either at first base or in right field.

While that's unlikely on day one, if injuries became an issue or if Matt Adams struggles as an every day player, Scruggs could be a legitimate possibility for the Cardinals.

60/1

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2. James Ramsey, RF

Highest Level: Triple-A Memphis Redbirds

2013 Stats: .265/.373/.440, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 9 SB

James Ramsey, a first round draft pick in 2012 chosen 23rd overall by the Cardinals, is a solid offensive outfielder ready to make an impact at the major league level.

Despite the logjam at the position, Ramsey could possibly find a home as a bat off the bench. He doesn't hit for high average, but is capable of giving the Cardinals the late inning bench power they needed so badly during the 2013 postseason.

Given the current makeup of the Cardinals bench, there's a good chance that they will be looking to add a bat before the season. There's an off chance that Ramsey could be that guy.

40/1

--

1. Stephen Piscotty, OF

Highest Level: Double-A Springfield Cardinals

2013 Stats: .295/.355/.465, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 11 SB

Stephen Piscotty might have started the Arizona Fall League as a relative unknown, but he sure didn't finish it that way.

He broke records all over the league and shifted his persona within the organization from an intriguing prospect to the next exciting offensive prospect

When the Cardinals go searching for a new bat off the bench, in all likelihood Stephen Piscotty will be the first place they look.

10/1

Comments

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Wong is the only one out of spring training who has almost a sure shot at making the team. Trevares, unless there are injuries, probably will be in Memphis. Going into spring training they have a set lineup. That doesn't include Trevares who needs to play every day. Too, the pitching is set.

-- Posted by Lost Dog on Thu, Feb 6, 2014, at 7:10 PM
Marco Gonzales is a LHP by the way Corey.

-- Posted by Bunk on Thu, Feb 6, 2014, at 9:05 PM
I think Marco Gonzales just missed the baseball prospectus 101 so I do look to see him make it later in the year if injury requires it. He needs to develop a third pitch because apparently his curve was the best curve in college baseball last year and he can paint the edges around 90-92 mph with fastballs. Could be a left handed Kyle Lohse if we are lucky.

I also think that Taveras and Piscotty end up in AAA and that Taveras will get that call eventually this summer and Piscotty will play with the September call ups with a real shot of making a hopeful playoff roster.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 9:23 AM
I love how the NRIs are actually guys in our system. I remember when Walt was the GM he would literally go out there and throw darts in the dark hoping something would stick....it worked sometimes, but failed more often than not.

-- Posted by exzalmanian on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 12:31 PM
To be fair we signed a career reliever a few days ago in the form of Pat Neshak and gave him a NRI to spring training. We still do it just don't give Jeff Clement 7 mil for one anymore.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 1:14 PM

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