Red Sox Invite 14 Non‑Roster Players to Spring Training, Emphasize Triple‑A Depth

The Boston Red Sox invited 14 non-roster players to major league spring training, a move that clarifies which veterans and near-majors will battle for big-league looks and which will likely anchor Triple-A depth to start 2026. The list, issued in a Jan. 23 press release, mixes catchers, outfielders and arms who logged significant Triple-A time in 2025 and puts a spotlight on organizational depth maps ahead of camp.

Catcher Nate Baez arrives fresh from a Jan. 21 trade with the Minnesota Twins that sent Tristan Gray to Boston. Baez, in his first MLB spring camp, hit .278 with a .794 OPS across High-A and Double-A in 2025. His acquisition and invite are tied to recent Triple-A and MiLB roster shuffling and position the 2025 performer as immediate depth behind Boston’s catching options or as a first-in-line Triple-A backstop.

Veteran Triple-A contributors headline the list. Nathan Hickey played 128 games for Triple-A Worcester in 2025, hitting .234 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI, and will return to camp as a known quantity for first base and corner outfield depth. Braiden Ward split time between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, producing a .290 average and swiping 57 bases while showing a strong on-base profile in parts of 2025. Ward’s speed and contact work make him a clear candidate for late-season callups or to man a top-of-order role at Triple-A.

On the mound, Seth Martinez offers multi-level experience. Martinez made 41 appearances for Triple-A Jacksonville in 2025, posting a 3.71 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 43.2 innings, and he also made major league appearances for Miami. Right-handers Wyatt Olds and other listed arms bring additional Triple-A innings from Worcester and other affiliates, reinforcing the depth chart for April injuries or bullpen workloads.

For Triple-A beat writers and front offices, the invite list functions as a practical blueprint. Non-roster invites reveal who will be evaluated against major league players in camp and who is likely to receive opening-day assignments at Worcester, Albuquerque or Jacksonville. The presence of catchers like Baez and Hickey, a high-steal commodity in Ward, and high-leverage bullpen options like Martinez reflects a strategic emphasis on controllable depth, speed on the bases, and serviceable pitching resources.

Beyond roster mechanics, the list underscores broader industry trends: clubs conserving payroll through internal depth, valuing multi-level performers, and leaning on Triple-A veterans to bridge service-time and injury gaps. For players, spring camp offers visibility and mobility; for fans in Worcester, Albuquerque and Jacksonville, the invites foreshadow which familiar faces might anchor the local lineup in April. Expect intense competition in Sarasota as these 14 non-roster players chase Major League opportunities while effectively shaping Boston’s Triple-A landscape for 2026.