Top Prospects Wetherholt, Mathews & Henderson Highlight List
ST. LOUIS, Mo., – The St. Louis Cardinals announced 27 non-roster invitees to 2026 Spring Training camp today.
Highlighting the list of those set to report to Jupiter the second week of February are 2025 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt and 2025 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson.
Eight players who were acquired this offseason or after the start of last season will report with the big leaguers: RHP Scott Blewett, RHP Skylar Hales, 1B Blaze Jordan, RHP Gerson Moreno, LHP Jared Shuster, OF Nelson Velázquez, C Andy Yerzy and LHP Bruce Zimmermann.
Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first Major League camp including pitchers Luis Gastelum, Pete Hansen, Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón; catchers Graysen Tarlow and Yerzy; infielders Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, and Brody Moore; and outfielder Mike Antico.
2024 MiLB & Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews returns to St. Louis’ spring roster along with other members who were in camp last season including pitchers Max Rajcic, Sem Robberse and Zack Thompson; catcher Carlos Linárez; infielders Jeremy Rivas and Wetherholt; and outfielders Chase Davis and Matt Koperniak.
Left-handed pitcher Packy Naughton, who pitched for St. Louis in 2022 and 2023 before being sidelined for most of the past two seasons with an arm injury, will also be in Major League camp. Four other non-roster invitees will enter Cardinals camp with Major League experience, including Blewett (Royals, Twins, Orioles, Braves), Shuster (Braves, White Sox), Velázquez (Cubs, Royals) and Zimmerman (Orioles, Brewers).
Following is a positional list of non-roster invite players:
PITCHERS (15): Scott Blewett (RHP), Luis Gastelum (RHP), Skylar Hales (RHP), Pete Hansen (LHP), Ixan Henderson (LHP), Austin Love (RHP), Quinn Mathews (LHP), Gerson Moreno (RHP), Packy Naughton (LHP), Max Rajcic (RHP), Hancel Rincón, (RHP), Sem Robberse (RHP), Jared Shuster (LHP), Zack Thompson* (LHP), Bruce Zimmermann (LHP)*
CATCHERS (3): Carlos Linárez, Graysen Tarlow, Andy Yerzy
INFIELDERS (5): Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, Brody Moore, Jeremy Rivas, JJ Wetherholt
OUTFIELDERS (4): Mike Antico, Chase Davis, Matt Koperniak, Nelson Velázquez
*Injured
Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Thursday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 16.
The 27 non-roster invitees brings the Cardinals’ Spring Training roster to 67 players.
