Spring Training is starting for several MLB clubs this week as pitchers and catcher start to report. With that comes the news of players that aren’t on the 40 man rosters being invited to participate in Spring Training with the clubs.
There are several reasons why teams invite those players that aren’t officially part of the 40 man rosters. First is to have enough players in camp to have enough numbers as players ramp up the usage. Going too hard too fast could lead to more injuries. A second reason is to get an up close look at prospects that are still in the Minors and have the big league staff get to know them personally. A player who has been in the club’s farm system for a few years, but hasn’t made the MLB squad will get an up close look by the MLB staff. Another is to give veteran players who aren’t already part of another club another look to see if they have anything left and contribute to the team.
Whatever the reason, while it isn’t unheard of for a non roster invitee to break training with the big league club, it is unlikely. If one does make the big league team, it will most likely be a veteran who has shown he still has something to offer a MLB club.
Let’s take a look at those with ties to the Sooner State who were invited to Spring Training as a non roster player.
1. Dane Acker, Texas Rangers (Oklahoma, ’20)
Acker pitched just 2 games with the Sooners in the COVID shortened season in 2020. He is remembered for pitching a no hitter against LSU in the Shriner’s Classic before the season shut down. He was drafted in the 4th round by the Astros that season.
It’s been a rough go for Acker as a professional. Because of injuries, Acker pitched in only 11 total games between 2021 and 2022. He pitched in 18 in 2023 and made the most appearances of his pro career in 2024 with 26 (18 starts).
In 2024, Acker went 5-4 with an ERA of 3.05 in 97.1 IP. He gave up 87 hits with 40 walks against 104 Ks. For his career: 3.29 ERA in 196.2 IP, 158 H, 92 BB, 222 K.
Acker was ranked as the #26 overall prospect for the Rangers and the 10th RHP.
2. Jimmy Crooks, St Louis Cardinals (Oklahoma, ’21-’22)
Crooks has quietly become on of the Cardinals’ best prospects. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Crooks has been nothing but impressive in his first 2 full seasons for the Cardinals.
Crooks was so outstanding for Springfield (AA) in 2024, he was named the Southern League Player of the Year.
Crooks is the Cardinals #5 overall prospect and the #1 catcher.
3. Thomas Hatch, Kansas City Royals (Jenks HS ’13/OSU ’14-’16)
Hatch falls into the category of a veteran looking to make a big league club.
Coming out of Jenks High School, Hatch was drafted in the 32nd round, but he decided to go to OSU instead. The Chicago Cubs selected him in the 3rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Never making it above AA for the Cubs, Hatch was traded to the Blue Jays in 2019.
Hatch made his MLB debut in the COVID 2020 season. Bouncing back and forth between MLB and AAA as well as dealing with injuries for the next 3 seasons, the Blue Jays DFA’d Hatch in August of 2023 where the Pirates claimed him off waivers.
Hatch pitched in Japan in 2024 where he made only 5 appearances for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He signed a minor league deal with the Royals in February.
Hatch’s career MLB line: G 39, GS 6, 4-4, 4.96 ERA, 69 IP, 74 H, 33 BB. 61 K
4. Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs (Norman HS, ’20/Oklahoma ’21-’22)
Drafted 7th overall by the Cubs in the 2022 MLB Draft, Horton is someone the Cubs want to see up close this Spring Training. In his first full professional season in 2023, Horton shot up the Cubs’ farm system to AAA by the end of the season and was a finalist for the MiLB Pitcher of the Year.
Last season was a little bit of a setback for Horton. While in AAA, Horton didn’t pitch in a game after May due to injury. While he is back healthy in 2025, don’t expect Horton to break with the Cubs out of Spring Training. For his part though, Horton said the goal for him is to make the big league club sometime in 2025.
Horton is the #52 overall MLB prospect, the Cubs’ #2 overall prospect, and the Cubs’ top pitching prospect.
5. Matt Kroon, Philadelphia Phillies (Oklahoma State ’18)
The Oklahoma State alum comes into the 2025 season having spent the last 6 seasons in the minors.
Drafted 3 times (high school, JUCO, and OSU), Kroon left for pro ball after his only season in Stillwater. He’s been with the Phillies this whole time while spending 2024 in AAA Lehigh Valley.
Kroon’s career line: G 382, .277/.354/.433 (.787 OPS), 34 HR, 167 RBI, 72 2B, 16 3B, 143 BB, 368 SO, 73 SB, 28 CS
6. Andrew Navigato, Detroit Tigers (Oklahoma State ’19)
Navigato is very much in the same situation at Kroon. Drafted in 2019, Navigato has spent all 5 of his professional season in the minors. Drafted in the 20th round of the 2019 Draft, Navigato has seen a steady rise in the Tigers’ system playing the 2024 season in AAA.
Navigato’s career line: G 440, .256/.337/.446 (.783 OPS), 59 HR, 236 RBI, 95 2B, 12 3B, 158 BB, 389 SO, 59 SB, 32 CS
7. Steven Okert, Houston Astros (Oklahoma ’12)
Okert is a veteran relief pitcher who has pitched in 7 of the last 8 MLB seasons (he did not pitch in the 2020 COVID season). Drafted by the Giants in 2012, made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Giants. He pitched for San Francisco until 2021 when he signed as a free agent with the Miami Marlins.
After 3 seasons in Miami, Okert was traded to the Minnesota Twins before the 2024 season. Okert saw action in 44 games for the Twins before being DFA’d then outrighted to AAA. Okert then elected free agency in the offseason where the Astros signed him to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training.
Okert’s career line: G 272 / GS 3, 15-11, 3.92 ERA, 229.2 IP, 185 H, 96 BB, 253 K
8. Brock Rodden, Seattle Mariners (Oktaha HS ’19/Seminole St ’20-’21)
Drafted in the 5th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Rodden has been nothing but impressive in his 1+ years in professional baseball. A consistent hitter and excellent fielder, Rodden will be spending his 2nd Spring Training with the Mariners as he was a non roster invitee last year.
In his first full pro ball season, Rodden was promoted to AA, Arkansas where he continued to impress. He was so impressive that he was named the MiLB Gold Glove Winner for 2B.
Rodden’s career line: G 165, .270/.348/.424 (.772 OPS), 16 HR, 84 RBI, 38 2B, 7 3B, 71 BB, 157 SO
Rodden is the Mariner’s #22 overall prospect and
9. Cody Thomas, Texas Rangers (Oklahoma ’14-’16)
The former 2 sport athlete at OU, Thomas was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2016 MLB Draft.
After spending 4+ years in the Dodgers’ system, Thomas was traded to the Oakland A’s before the 2021 season. That is where Thomas had his best seasons. At AAA in 2021, Thomas slashed .289/.363/.655 with 18 HR and 52 RBI. Unfortunately, Thomas missed most of the 2022 season with an Achilles injury until he made some rehab starts in September before being called up to the majors.
Thomas bounced back and forth between the majors and AAA in 2023 playing 19 games for the A’s in 2023.
Thomas played 2024 in Japan and signed with the Rangers in January on a minor league deal.
Thomas’ career (MLB) line: G 29, .250/.308/.333 (.641 OPS), HR, 2 RBI, 3 2B, 6 BB, 29 SO
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