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We start our traditional look at the non-roster invitees to spring training for the D-backs"As well as the entire 40-man roster http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey , the Arizona Diamondbacks have invited twenty other players to spring training at Salt River Fields next month. These are a mixture of up and coming prospect and crafty veterans: some will be familiar, but others, not so much. Whle you should be aware of most names on the 40-man roster [though I’m still not sure what a Robbie Scott is, or why we have one...], we’ve had a regular feature as we approach spring of going through the non-roster invitees. Forewarned is forearmed, and this is that week, starting with some of the pitchers you’ll be seeing reporting to Scottsdale in little more than a fortnight. Ryan AtkinsonOne of our independent ball finds, Atkinson went undrafted in 2015 out of the University of Cincinnati, though given a 4.82 ERA in his senior year there, that isn’t too surprising. He then gave up professional ball entirely for a bit, working in their Medical Center as a patient services manager. However, the bug was merely dormant, and a year later he signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League (the same league which also gave us Clay Zavada). His time there was short, striking out eight over 5.2 innings of one-hit ball before the Diamondbacks brought him back into the major-league pipeline. It was his 2017 that got Ryan back on the radar, as he had 167 strikeouts over 141.2 IP at three levels, the most K’s by any D-backs prospect for the season. That got him his first spring invite, though his follow-up season proved rather rougher. In twenty starts for Double-A Jackson, Atkinson had a 5.25 ERA, and ended the season in the bullpen. The results there were better: a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings, though if he’s to progress further he needs to get the walk-rate down. Last year, Ryan walked 58 batters and hit eight more in 109 total innings, though the K’s were still there at 123. He turns 26 in May Ryan Zimmerman Jersey , so this season could well prove pivotal as to whether he follows Zavada all the way back to the majors.Stefan CrichtonCrichton’s path to spring training was rather more conventional, if injury plagued. Drafted by the Orioles in the 23rd round of the 2013 draft, he was sent to Arizona last April for cash considerations. He had a rough go in his major-league debut with the Orioles in 2017, his ERA being above eight. Crichton fared worse still out of the Aces’ bullpen last year, with a 10.13 ERA before going on the DL on May 19 with shoulder inflammation. He was eventually released in June, but was re-signed four days later, and eventually activated off the DL at the end of September. He’ll need to prove his health first. then try to live up to Mike Hazen’s comments at the time of his acquisition:Rubby De La RosaI must confess, I’d almost forgotten about De La Rosa, given he last appeared at any level, pitching for Reno in August 2017. Rubby underwent his second Tommy John procedure on August 22nd that year (his first being back in 2011, when with the Dodgers), but was re-signed to a two-year minor league deal the following month. For 2019, that’s a heavily incentive-laden contract which gives him $750K if he makes the majors, plus up to $2.75 million in bonuses, as well as an early-season opt-out if he doesn’t make the roster. After two TJ procedures, it’s a longer shot, though even getting this invite suggests the recovery is going well enough to this point. Fun fact. He led the Diamondbacks in wins for the 2015 season, with more victories (14) than Robbie Ray and Patrick Corbin combined for (11), over their 39 starts. Seems so long ago now...Jon DuplantierGenerally regarded as the team’s top prospect going into the 2018 season, he was the organization’s Pitcher of the Year for 2017, and made the top #100 overall lists for Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com. There was some thought he might make his major-league debut last year. but those hopes likely ended when Jon missed close to two months with right bicep tendinitis http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey , extending an unfortunate history of arm issues (partly explaining why he dropped to the third round of the 2016 draft). That and a balky hamstring limited him to just 74 innings in 2018, though Duplantier got some of those back in the Arizona Fall League, where he threw 21.2 frames, with 32 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.32. Jack watched the prospect there, and came away “very impressed,” though even at that point doubted Duplantier would be in the 2019 Opening Day rotation. The subsequent arrival of Merrill Kelly and Luke Weaver have likely pushed Jon down the depth chart, and the rise of Jazz Chisholm has knocked him of the #1 prospect throne. But if he stays fit, Duplantier should likely receive consideration when the team needs a replacement starter, as they almost inevitably will. As John Sickels wrote in August, “little question about his talent but durability still a significant question.” HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros entered last season looking to defend the title after winning their first World Series in 2017.Being eliminated in the ALCS by the Boston Red Sox has done nothing to shake their confidence as the 2019 season arrives.“I don’t think the feeling’s any different,” manager AJ Hinch said. “I think the way people talk about things is a little different … there’s an expectation of winning here and there should be. We have a good team.”The Astros won their second AL West crown last year after setting a franchise record with 103 wins. They swept the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS before injuries to stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa contributed to a 4-1 series loss to the Red Sox in the next round.Although the expectations remain high for a team that returns the majority of its roster from last season, Hinch will be careful to make sure these Astros don’t look too far ahead.“I’m going to be the guy behind the scenes who is keeping our feet on the ground and making sure that we win series, we win homestands, we win months,” Hinch said. “It’s a boring, methodical way of describing it but that’s what’s needed for 162 (games) and that’s why we’ve had four winning seasons.”Altuve and Correa are healthy now and up-and-coming star third baseman Alex Bregman is poised to take another step after a breakout 2018 season. The rotation is in good shape, too, with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole back to lead the pitching staff.“I have as much confidence as I ever have in this team,” Hinch said. “I love this team. I love the makeup. I love the edge that we have, the versatility that we have, the depth that our minor league system has. There’s a lot of good going on here.”The Astros open the season at Tampa Bay on March 28 with Verlander on the mound against 2018 Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.WHO’S THE DH?The Astros didn’t re-sign Evan Gattis, who served as the team’s designated hitter last season Bryce Harper Jersey , leaving that spot open entering this year. But don’t expect the team to fill the role with just one player. General manager Jeff Luhnow said Tyler White will get some at-bats but the team plans to use the DH spot to give their stars a break from playing in the field from time to time. He noted that Altuve, Correa, Bregman, first baseman Yuli Gurriel and center fielder George Springer could all see time at designated hitter this season.“It’s nice to have that flexibility and not be locked into having one guy that you have to play every day because he’s the DH,” Luhnow said. “We certainly want to utilize that spot and maximize both the rest it provides for the position players as well as the output because we want to get some home runs out of that spot.”NEW FACESWhile much of Houston’s team is unchanged from a year ago, the Astros did add a few new players this offseason. Their top acquisition came with the signing of Michael Brantley to a two-year, $32 million deal. The 31-year-old gives the Astros an upgrade in left field and adds a left-handed bat to a predominantly right-handed lineup. The career .295 hitter had spent his entire 10-year career with the Indians.After letting left-hander Dallas Keuchel go in free agency, the Astros filled his role in the rotation by adding fellow lefty Wade Miley on a one-year, $4.5 million contract. Miley was 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts and 80 2/3 innings for the Milwaukee Brewers last year.Houston also signed a new catcher in Robinson Chirinos after Brian McCann signed with the Braves. Chirinos spent the last six seasons with the Rangers, where he hit .222 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs.They also traded for utility player Aledmys Diaz after longtime super-utility man Marwin Gonzalez signed with the Twins. Diaz, who was an All-Star in 2016, batted .263 with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Blue Jays last season.ROOKIES TO WATCHThis team won’t have many rookies on its opening day roster, but a pair of young pitchers will be important in the bullpen. Josh James and Framber Valdez both made their MLB debuts late last season, but will still be considered rookies this season because of their limited work last year. Valdez competed for the fifth spot in the rotation this spring, but was beat out by veteran Brad Peacock. The left-handed Valdez was 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA in eight games with five starts last season. James performed so well after a September call-up that he made Houston’s playoff roster. The 25-year-old, whose fastball routinely hits 102 mph, missed out on a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation because of a quadriceps injury this spring. But he’s healthy now and should contribute out of the bullpen early, but could start at some point this season.