In some previous years, the Atlanta Braves have put out a list of non-roster invitees to spring training that seemed to continue some bizarrely intriguing names. One famous example is when fans were greeted to seeing Tyler Matzek's name in Braves camp and, well, you all know the rest. Usually, NRIs don't move the needle much, but it is nice to see some unknowns thrown in just to see what they can do.
Unfortunately, the Braves' announcement of their non-roster invitees for 2026 isn't quite as exciting. There are certainly some veterans who could see real playing time this coming season, and there are a number of prospects to monitor in camp, but there were no real surprises this time.
#Braves announced their non-roster invitees to Spring Training.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) February 4, 2026
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 9 and the first workout is Feb. 10. pic.twitter.com/anYI4JrIT8
Braves announce non-roster invites to spring training, which include promising prospects and safe veterans
Starting on the prospect side, there are some really fun names for fans to follow this spring. JR Ritchie has a realistic shot of making the rotation right out of camp, though the signals coming out at the moment are that the rotation picture is already getting crowded. Garrett Baumann, Owen Murphy, Alex Lodise, and John Gil are all also worth some attention, especially Lodise, who could end up getting fast-tracked to the majors as a college shortstop if he plays well.
After that, things start getting a bit more speculative. Martin Perez has been around forever and doesn't often implode, but his stuff is very much in decline, and he feels like a "break glass in case of emergency" rotation option (or at least he should be). Sandy Leon is making his annual appearance in Braves camp as he has turned into the backup-backup catcher version of Jesse Chavez. The odds are low, but keep an eye on James Karinchak in the bullpen competition. His career kind of imploded, but Karinchak also had some of the nastiest stuff in baseball for a time with the Guardians.
All of this underscores the fact that most of the true competitions in Braves camp in 2026 are going to come from guys that are already in the fold on the 40-man. That might not be as fun as having a guy come out of nowhere (which could still happen!), but it still makes for a fascinating spring training to watch.