Red Sox non-roster invitees: Boston’s new ‘Big Three’ among 8 position player hopefuls

Non-roster invitees are typically considered a long-shot to make the Opening Day roster, but that’s not necessarily the case this year.

Three top prospects, Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer, are among the eight non-roster position players who will open Red Sox spring training alongside the 40-man roster next week. The trio, known as Boston’s new “Big Three,” are all slated to make their big-league debuts this season; Anthony and Campbell could make the cut out of spring training.

Here’s a rundown of the eight position-player hopefuls reporting to Fort Myers.

Roman Anthony

Anthony put himself on the map last season in a big way, so much so that he was named Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect before the year was out. The outfielder, 20, is considered a strong all-around player. He hit .291 with a .894 OPS in 119 total games last season, including .344 with a .983 OPS in 35 following his promotion to Triple-A.

Kristian Campbell

In 2023, Campbell was Boston’s compensatory draft pick for losing Xander Bogaerts to free agency. In the year and a half since, he’s proven to be one of the most promising all-around players in the organization, capable of playing all over the field and a powerhouse at the plate. Amidst two promotions last season, he managed to sustain a strong offensive campaign, hitting .330 with a .997 OPS over 115 games.

When he earned a move up to Triple-A Worcester last August – his second promotion of the season – manager Chad Tracy said he felt comfortable using Campbell at any defensive position but catcher.

Nate Eaton

Eaton, 28, comes to spring training with 72 big-league games under his belt. A longtime member of the Royals organization, he played parts of the ‘22 and ‘23 seasons in Kansas City.

However, of all the long shots on this list, Eaton is among the longest. With Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu, the outfield is one of the strongest facets of the team.

Nathan Hickey

With top catching prospect Kyle Teel shipped off to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade, the Red Sox have to reconfigure their future behind the dish. Connor Wong had a strong season at the plate, but members of the brass haven’t minced words about his defense.

However, of the three non-roster catchers, Hickey is the most bat-first, and has spent time at first and third base due to concerns about his catching. He doesn’t hit for a high average, but he gets on base. Over 112 games between Double-A Portland (26) and Triple-A Worcester (86) last season, he had a .350 on-base percentage and drew 81 walks. Only two Red Sox players hit for a better OBP last season, Rob Refsnyder (.359) and Rafael Devers (.354), and no one on the big-league roster drew more than 67 walks (Devers).

Hickey’s bat also has some serious pop, but he struggled at the plate last season. Though he collected 25 doubles and 13 home runs overall, after being promoted to Triple-A to start the campaign, he was sent back down to Double-A in mid-August. He didn’t homer once after the demotion.

Mark Kolozsvary

Kolozsvary began his professional career in the Cincinnati Reds organization and played 10 big-league games for them in his ‘22 debut but he’s bounced around the league since the Orioles claimed him off waivers that October. He joined the Red Sox organization on a minor-league deal in December ‘23 and re-signed with them last month, but only played 27 games for Triple-A last season.

He’s only hit .176 with a .609 OPS in his four Triple-A seasons, but he brings solid defense at the dish.

Mayer

Mayer is the longest-tenured of the “Big Three” prospects, and ostensibly the next great Red Sox shortstop of the future. So much so that Bogaerts’ agent, Scott Boras, alluded to Boston being willing to make Bogaerts a lowball offer because of Mayer’s potential.

However, Mayer is also coming into spring training on less solid ground after missing considerable time in each of the last two seasons due to shoulder and back injuries. He, Anthony and Teel were jointly promoted to Triple-A last August, but Mayer never ended up playing.

However, at Fenway Fest last month, big-league manager Alex Cora said Marcelo will spend some time at second and third base this preseason to diversify his defensive portfolio.

Abraham Toro

Toro, a former Astros, Mariners and A’s utility-man, signed to a minor-league deal last week, brings some defensive versatility to the non-roster group and could be a solid backup option for second base.

While he’s not exactly a consistent hitter, there have been Jackie Bradley Jr.-esque moments of greatness at the plate. (Remember that 2016 hitting streak?) Toro began his Mariners tenure by reaching base safely in his first 18 games. In the midst of his ‘21 trade from Houston to Seattle – during a four-game series between the two teams – he homered four games in a row, twice for Houston before the trade, twice for Seattle after.

Seby Zavala

As a defense-first catcher, Zavala could be a solid foil to everyday backstop Connor Wong.

Born in 1993, Zavala is the oldest of the eight non-roster position players. He also has more experience than Hickey, who has yet to debut, and Kolozsvary, whose big-league career amounts to 10 games with the ‘22 Reds and one with the ‘23 Orioles.

Zavala and Kolozsvary won’t be the only defense-first options in camp, though. The Red Sox acquired Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees this offseason, and signed Blake Sabol.