The Boston Red Sox on Jan. 28 announced nine non-roster invitees to their 2025 spring training to bring their list to 20 in total.
Every year, non-roster invitees make an impact in March in the race to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Those impacts lead to them being considered viable options during the season should the team need help.
Which non-roster invitees could stand above the rest and find themselves in the majors at some point this year? Of the 20 current options, all of them have a realistic case. However, we'll narrow it down to five.
Five non-roster invitees who could make an impact for the Red Sox
Roman Anthony (OF)
The top prospect in baseball who dominated Triple-A pitching for over a month to end the season. It's ridiculously easy to see why Roman Anthony can make an impact for the Red Sox in 2025.
Anthony is a left-handed hitting outfielder. Left-handed hitters and outfielders are two things Boston doesn't need more of. However, Anthony is too good to deny.
There's a legitimate chance that Anthony earns a spot on the major league roster out of spring training. If that doesn't happen, the 20-year-old could still find himself in Boston before his 21st birthday (May 13) if he continues to play as well as he did last year — he slashed .291/.396/.498 with a .894 OPS over 119 games.
Kristian Campbell (2B/3B/SS/OF)
Kristian Campbell's 2024 season was one for the record books. The right-handed hitter spent time at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield. He did so while crushing High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A pitching.
The Red Sox could use some help at second base and would love more right-handed hitting. Campbell can provide both.
Like Anthony, there's a path for Campbell to make the roster out of spring training, as he's in the running for a starting job at second base. The two top prospects don't have a ton of experience in Triple-A yet, which could cause the Red Sox to hold off. However, the body of work in 2024 speaks for itself.
Marcelo Mayer (SS)
Marcelo Mayer will have a different path to the majors than Anthony and Campbell. He was promoted to Triple-A with Anthony (and now White Sox top prospect Kyle Teel) in August of last season. However, an injury ended Mayer's season early and he never appeared in a game for Worcester.
Due to that, there's no real shot of Mayer making the team out of Spring Training. The Red Sox seem to want to find a spot for him in the near future, though. They are working him in multiple other positions, including second and third base, to open up his versatility.
Meanwhile, the left-handed hitting shortstop provides a lot at the plate. He'll need to prove himself in Triple-A. Mayer cooking in Worcester wouldn't surprise anyone, though. When he's ready, will a spot be open? It will depend on the health of multiple people and what positions he's opened himself up to.
Expect Mayer in Fenway Park at some point during the 2025 season.
Jovani Moran (LRP)
The Red Sox traded for Jovani Moran back on Christmas Eve. Boston sent utility man Mickey Gasper to the Minnesota Twins in return for the left-handed reliever.
Per source:
— Hunter Noll (@Hunter_Noll) December 24, 2024
The Boston Red Sox have traded Mickey Gasper to the Minnesota Twins for minor league left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran
Moran was a crafty pickup. He had a phenomenal 2022 season with the Twins but a rough 2023. Tommy John surgery kept him out all of 2024. He's ready to go for spring training, though.
The under-the-hood numbers look good, and Moran is a lefty reliever who can rack up strikeouts (112 in 91 career MLB innings). Boston has a few options for left-handed bullpen arms, but Moran could be the most intriguing. He's still young (27) and has impressed in the big leagues in the past. You never know what you'll get from someone returning from Tommy John surgery, but keep an eye on Moran.
Abraham Toro (1B/2B/3B/OF)
Abraham Toro is one of the newest additions to the organization. The switch-hitting utility man has had some moments in the majors.
His numbers over a six-year span between the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics might not thrill anyone. However, Toro is a good veteran presence who can play multiple positions and has his highlights at the plate.
Toro is perfectly suited to be a veteran in the Worcester locker room to start the year. When injuries inevitably crop up, he could be called on to reinforce the infield. Sometimes, in those situations, teams don't want to call on a young player who will be sent down in two weeks and will then need to be moved off the 40-man roster.
Losing Toro would likely hurt the Worcester locker room, but it wouldn't impact the future of the Red Sox. Maybe he plays well and sticks around for a while. He has that Darnell McDonald, Pedro Ciriaco, Pablo Reyes vibe of a guy who becomes a fan favorite for a short period.