March 7th, 2019 at 10:00 am 
by 0799291000348 In addition to the players on their 40-man roster, the Dodgers have 22 “non-roster invitees” (NRIs) at Camelback Ranch this spring. This group of NRIs is not unlike other years, some are top prospects getting their first exposure to the major league camp and clubhouse, while the older veteran players (i.e., those with MLB experience) are looking to catch-lightning-in-a-bottle and make an active roster … on any team.
Before Opening Day 2019, top Dodgers prospects (and NRIs) Gavin Lux, Dustin May, DJ Peters, Omar Estevez, Mitchell White, Will Smith, Keibert Ruiz, and Tony Gonsolin will be assigned to minor league camp and then head to either Triple-A Oklahoma City or Double-A Tulsa to continue their quest for MLB stardom. Nonetheless, each wants to seize every opportunity this spring to display his abilities and make a positive, lasting impression on the coaches, front office, and veteran players.
(Photo courtesy of Baseball America)
The veteran NRIs also want to display their talents, but their goal is to earn a roster spot on the Dodgers, or another team, that will give them another chance to play this season in The Show. Even though the term “prospect” has long since been deleted from their scouting reports, there are no illusions of multi-year, eight-digit guaranteed contracts; a one-year deal above the major league minimum would be terrific news to any of these guys.
The odds of a veteran NRI making the Dodgers roster this year are incredibly small, but not for lack of effort. They are:
- Outfielders Cameron Perkins (age 28) and Ezequiel Carrera (age 31) have performed well this spring, but the Dodgers position depth assures both will be playing for OKC this season.
- Daniel Corcino (age 28) pitched for Dodgers last season and is having a good spring (other than five walks in three innings), but there is no room for him on the roster. Other pitchers have been underwhelming, out-performed by several minor leaguers.
- Kevin Quackenbush and Josh Smoker will be doing well to make the OKC roster as organizational depth.
- Shortstop Daniel Castro (age 26) has looked good in the field and at the plate, but he and second baseman Jake Peter will pair up at OKC.
- Catcher Josh Thole (age 32) is competing with Rocky Gale to backup Austin Barnes and Russell Martin as well as mentor Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz at OKC. Gale has a huge advantage since he is already on the Dodgers 40-man roster and has three minor league options. Thole can opt out of his contract if not added the Dodgers roster before July 1. Look for him to be traded or sold to a catcher-needy team (Royals?)
- The recently signed utility player Brad Miller (age 29) has the best chance of making the Dodgers 40-man roster at some point this season. Miller has experience at every position, other than pitcher and catcher, with a power, left-handed bat, and he is well regarded by members of the Dodgers front office.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
Major League Baseball is a tough business … Just ask an NRI.
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(Editor’s note: Following Wednesday night’s game, the Dodgers optioned left-handed pitcher Adam McCreery, and reassigned left-handed pitcher Josh Smoker and right-handed pitchers Joe Broussard, Daniel Corcino and Jesen Therrien to minor league camp).
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I don’t care what his ERA says. If you have 5 walks in 3 innings there is no freaking way you can classify that as having a good spring. More like having a lucky spring that it hasn’t bit him in the butt yet.
Fair point if only looking at ERA, but at the time the piece was written Corcino had only given up 1 hit, no earned runs, and opponents BAA was .100 (ERA was 0.00).