photo: Nolan Gorman (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

While we had been conditioned to expect as many as 70 players to be invited to the St. Louis Cardinals 2020 Spring Training Camp, the initial total is actually 72, which may be a new record. (For reference, last year’s group totaled 64.)

The 2020 invitees include all members of the 40-man roster (by default) plus 32 non-roster invitees. Among the 32 are two free agent signings, both of whom were in other teams’ major league camps in 2019.

Another RHP non-roster newcomer in #stlcards spring camp is Nabil Crismatt, a signing TCN reported in early December. The 25-year old Colombian was an NRI with Seattle in 2019 and first signed with the Mets in 2012. pic.twitter.com/pUSvfPXq1Q — Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 31, 2020

RHP Akeem Bostick, released by the Astros from their Triple-A roster last August, has been signed by the #stlcards and received a non-roster invite to MLB spring camp. Bostick was Texas' 2nd-rounder in 2013. pic.twitter.com/sO4CTEPt2V — Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 31, 2020

Update

The Cardinals acquired Bostick’s contract from the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association. The right-hander pitched in five games for the T-Bones to conclude the 2019 season and into the playoffs. Bostick logged a 3.10 ERA in 17 1/3 innings on 15 hits, 17 strikeouts and seven walks.

Note that many stats websites list Bostick at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds. Maybe the latter was the case in 2013, but the T-Bones’ website shows him at 260. So the most recent information is what we are going with here at TCN, as well.

Note that MiLB.com lists the Cardinals as having acquired Bostick on September 11 of last year, but it was not posted until February. However, the AA dates the transaction on February 7 of this year. Again, the newest report is what we are listing on Bostick’s player page. Still, it is worth noting that his final KC outing was on September 8. Either way, he will be in St. Louis’ big-league camp this spring.

February 7 Transaction: @tbonesbaseball sold the contract of RHP Akeem Bostick to the #STLCards and released RHP Hunter Smith. — American Association (@AA_Baseball) February 7, 2020

Over 60 percent of the NRIs, 20 of 32, are members of The Cardinal Nation Top 50 Prospect Rankings for 2020, including six in the top 10.

With no STEP Camp (Spring Training Early Program) in 2020 for minor leaguers, two 2019 draftees – pitcher Zack Thompson and catcher Pedro Pages – became NRIs in their first professional spring.

The six extra pitchers over 2019 also meant an increase of two catchers – both from short-season ball last year – Pages and Aaron Antonini.

NRIs 2020 (32) Pitchers (17) Past TCN rank Bostick, Akeem HOU MLB 2019 Crismatt, Nabil SEA MLB 2019 Cruz, Jesus STEP 2019 Dobzanski, Bryan #50 Elledge, Seth NRI 2019 #31 FaGalde, Alex #29 Kaminsky, Rob free agent CLE Kruczynski, Evan NRI 2019 #41 Liberatore, Matthew Trade #3 Oviedo, Johan STEP 2019 #14 Parsons, Tommy #38 Ramirez, Roel STEP 2019 Roberts, Griffin #23 Rondon, Angel #9 Santos, Ramon STEP 2018 Thompson, Zack Whitley, Kodi #20 Catchers (9) Past TCN rank Antonini, Aaron Godoy, Jose NRI 2019 Hernandez, Oscar free agent Herrera, Ivan #6 Ortega, Dennis NRI 2019 Pages, Pedro #43 Rodriguez, Julio NRI 2019 #21 Soto, Carlos STEP 2019 Wilson, Alexis STEP 2019 Infielders (5) Past TCN rank Baker, Luken STEP 2019 #19 Gorman, Nolan STEP 2019 #2 Mendoza, Evan STEP 2019 #32 Nogowski, John STEP 2019 #42 Schrock, Max NRI 2019 #45 Outfielders (1) Past TCN rank Carlson, Dylan NRI 2019 #1

Pitchers and catchers will report on Tuesday, February 11, and hold their first on-field workout the following day on Wednesday, February 12. The Cardinals full squad will conduct their first on-field workouts on Monday, February 17.

Related article

For the full 40-man roster

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

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