Eight of the Braves’ top prospects, including recently acquired shortstop Dansby Swanson, were among 27 non-roster invitees to spring training announced by the team on Thursday.
The list includes four of the top six Braves prospects as rated by Baseball America: Swanson (No. 1), left-hander Sean Newcomb (No. 2), right-hander Aaron Blair (No. 3) and shortstop Ozzie Albies (No. 6), who turned 19 on Thursday. The Braves got Swanson and Blair from the Diamondbacks as part of last month’s trade for Shelby Miller, and Newcomb came from the Angels in the November deal that sent Andrelton Simmons to Anaheim.
Among other highly rated Braves prospects on the non-roster invitee list were 19-year-old outfielder Braxton Davidson, a Braves first-round draft pick in 2014; third baseman Rio Ruiz; and right-handers Chris Ellis, also acquired from the Angels in the Simmons deal, and Lucas Sims, a first-round pick in 2012 out of Brookwood High.
The other non-roster invitees included 10 announced in November and others signed since: lefties Hunter Cervenka, David Holmberg and Alex Torres; right-handers David Carpenter, Jhoulys Chacin, Chris Ellis, Ryan Kelly, Kyle Kendrick, Alexi Ogando, Chris Volstad and Madison Younginer; catchers Willians Astudillo, Matt Kennelly, Ryan Lavarnway, Joe Odom and Braeden Schlehuber; infielders Reid Brignac, Chase d’Arnaud and Nate Freiman; and outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo.
Braves pitchers and catchers report to spring training at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 19. The rest of the position players are due in by Feb. 24, with the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 25.
