Five non-roster invitees to watch at Phillies spring training

Pitchers and catchers reported to sunny Clearwater, Florida, on Wednesday morning to officially start Phillies camp, while the rest of the roster will make its way to the Carpenter Complex and BayCare Ballpark by Monday to really get things rolling with the first full-team workout.

Of course, spring training doesn’t mean a whole lot for a team that has championship-or-bust expectations, and these same-look Phillies don’t have many open competitions for key roles. But there are areas the club will aim to improve in 2026, providing opportunities for complementary pieces to contribute to the core of high-paid star players. The auditions start now for many of the 29 non-roster invitees the Phillies currently have in place.

It’s always helpful to hit on a minor-league signing or have a rookie come up and produce, and the Phillies have a mix of veterans and prospects in this group of NRIs. Here’s a list of five who could end up in Philadelphia at some point this season:

Justin Crawford

The most obvious NRI with a chance to play in the majors in 2026, Crawford will have to be added to the 40-man roster at some point before the season if things go to plan for the Phillies. The speedy, contact-heavy left-handed hitter has a clear path to become Philadelphia’s starting center fielder after he batted .334 in Triple-A with 46 stolen bases last year. There are questions about the top prospect’s defense and how his swing will translate in the major leagues, but Crawford could help jolt an aging lineup if he continues to hit like he did as he rose through the system. The former first-round draft pick should be both fascinating and fun to watch in the Grapefruit League.

Aidan Miller

Miller, a fellow former first-round pick, seems like a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, but he could be in Philadelphia rather soon. If any of Trea Turner, Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott get hurt for an extended period of time, Miller could come up as a replacement in the infield. And if one of Bohm or Stott struggles this season, perhaps Miller could get his shot then, as well. But first, Miller has to play well. He had an extremely slow start at Double-A last year before exploding in the last two months in Double-A and Triple-A. A hot spring and early campaign could push him toward the majors.

Dylan Moore

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters earlier this week that Moore will compete for one of the final roster spots. He’s a utility player and a former Gold Glover, and his ability to play multiple positions is an asset. However, Moore did hit just .201 with the Mariners and Rangers in 2025 and has had a relatively light bat throughout his career. But if the Phillies want to prioritize defense over offense, he could battle Otto Kemp for a bench/platoon spot. And if the club wants to prioritize defensive versatility over straight-up ability, he could beat out outfielder Johan Rojas. It might depend on preference and how the spring plays out.

Bryan De La Cruz

De La Cruz could also potentially compete for a bench spot with a productive spring. He was a decent outfield regular for the Marlins earlier in his career, but the last few years have been rough for the right-handed hitter. De La Cruz is coming off a strong winter-ball showing in the Dominican Republic and could be a potential extra outfielder if he can continue at the plate, although he doesn’t seem like a great fit to platoon with Brandon Marsh in left field since his splits against left-handed pitchers are underwhelming.

Tucker Davidson

The left-hander Davidson had a successful 22-start run in South Korea last year for the KBO’s Lotte Giants before finishing out the year in Triple-A in the Brewers organization. The Phillies are thin on starting-pitching depth, and Davidson is an insurance policy with some past major-league experience, although it’s been mostly rocky. Starters like Alan Rangel and Jean Cabrera are already on the 40-man roster and other NRIs could still be added, but Davidson could be an option to make a spot start or a few turns through the rotation if the Phillies deal with injuries on the staff.