There are only 38 days left until pitchers and catchers report (in theory), meaning that it’s time to start considering who the Nationals might invite to spring training. While the 40-man roster is set (and no changes can be made while the players are still locked out), the Nationals may look to invite more prospects than usual this year to see who has potential to not only make the Opening Day roster, but to sub in later in the season, given the revolving door-nature of the bullpen. Last year, the Nationals invited 32 minor league players to spring training.

The Nationals are not expected to be in contention in 2022, but the development that starts at spring training will help set the tone and foundation for this season and beyond. Non-roster invitees, who are typically upper-Minor Leaguers, may have a better shot at making the Opening Day roster given the team’s obvious needs in the bullpen, in left field, and at third base. Even if they don’t make Opening Day, they may be relied upon more often throughout the season, much like September/October call-ups Joan Adon, Alberto Baldonado, Jhon Romero, and Josh Rogers were in 2021. Beyond its obvious implications for the roster, spring training is also an effective way for minor leaguers who may not have spent time in the Show to get a feel for the pace of play and the skill level, and for the organization to get a sense of the player’s development.

Without further ado, here are four internal pitchers who may have a spring training invite to look forward to this February.

Cade Cavalli

Despite his difficult start at the Triple A level in 2021, Cavalli is all but certain to receive his second consecutive invite to spring training after dominant performances at the lower minor league levels. According to Baseball America, Cavalli was the top prospect of 2021 and is currently the second top-prospect, behind Keibert Ruiz. He is only 23-years-old, making him the second-youngest player on this list, and he led the minor leagues in strikeouts in 2021 (175 K’s in 123 1/3 innings pitched!). Although his dominant performances at Wilmington and Harrisburg were overshadowed late in the season by his struggles in Rochester, where he went from a 2.79 ERA in Pennsylvania to a 7.30 ERA in New York, he remains Washington’s best minor league pitcher. It’s highly unlikely that he makes the Opening Day cut, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes his way to the majors mid-season.

Sean Nolin

Nolin is, in my opinion, the most interesting pitcher on this list. 32-years-old and first drafted in 2010 by the Toronto Blue Jays, Nolin has been a part of six different MLB organizations and even did short stints with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was called up on August 11 from the Red Wings and made five starts, but in a game on September 8, he was ejected for hitting Freddie Freeman with a pitch in retaliation for Braves’ closer Will Smith hitting Juan Soto the night before. After serving a five game suspension, he was moved to the bullpen, finishing his season with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.688 WHIP. He was dropped from the 40-man roster on October 13 and elected to become a free agent, but was quickly re-signed to a minor league deal on November 9. Given Nolin’s skill level and Washington’s desperate need for good pitching, it seems certain that he will receive an invite to spring training, and he may even knock a pitcher like Adon, Voth, or Rainey off the roster for Opening Day. However, given his age, it’s unlikely that he’ll stick around for too long. 

Ben Braymer

Selected in the 18th round of the 2016 draft by the Nationals, Braymer made his major league debut in the nontraditional 2020 season, pitching in 7.1 innings across three games. He did not receive an invite to the 2021 spring training and instead remained at Rochester, where he posted a 5.87 ERA and a 1.535 WHIP on the year. Across his two seasons at the Triple A level, he has posted a 6.31 ERA and a 1.685 WHIP. On June 20, Braymer was designated for assignment off of the 40-man roster to make room for Gerardo Parra before ultimately getting outrighted to Triple A. While Braymer may not materialize into the starting lefty everyone had expected him to be while he was thriving at the lower minor league levels, this year seems like the best year to try and answer that question once and for all: he’s still young, at 27-years-old, and the Nationals’ recent pitching difficulties make it the perfect time to see who can fill the void and produce some innings, however unexpected that player may be.

Jackson Rutledge

Rutledge, much like last year, falls firmly in the category of non-roster invitees who will not make the Opening Day roster, but who the organization wants to see in-person. Selected in round 1 of the 2019 draft and currently only 22-years-old, Rutledge went through three minor league levels in 2021 and completed the season at High A in Wilmington. While his ERA and WHIP at Wilmington were nothing to write home about—12.66 and 2.44 in 4 games, respectively—he was hobbled by a shoulder injury and blisters, and it was his performance in the Arizona Fall League that reminded people of his potential. At the Arizona Fall League Championship Game, Rutledge struck out seven batters in 3.3 innings, allowing four walks and two hits.  While he did not have the dominant Fall League performance that teammate Cole Henry had, Rutledge nevertheless reminded the organization of his ability, and it may have been just enough to get him a second consecutive invite to spring training.