It’s not often that a nonroster invitee cracks an Opening Day 25-man roster, but the nonroster players who receive big league camp invitations are nonetheless critical to a team’s success.
Occasionally, there are some surprises. Three springs ago, first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson nearly forced his way onto the Opening Day roster, losing out to Steve Pearce on the final position player roster spot.
And if you picked right-hander Chaz Roe this time last year as the one player out of the 15 nonroster invitees who would have the biggest impact in 2015, then I want to hear your pick for next year’s Super Bowl.