Each winter in the leadup to spring training, MLB clubs choose minor league players and prospects to compete alongside their big leaguers for roster spots before Opening Day.
The Boston Red Sox on Jan. 28 announced their list of non-roster invitees (NRIs) to 2025 spring training, and it features some players Sox fans are particularly eager to see in action. The list of 20 current NRIs contains top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer.
Unless Mayer posts an outstanding spring training, he's the least likely of the "Big Three" to crack the Opening Day roster. A lower back injury prematurely ended his 2024 season before he was promoted to Triple-A alongside Anthony and Campbell. Thus, he's never seen an at-bat at the highest level before the majors.
Mark Kolozsvary and Seby Zavala will also get a chance to suit up with the Red Sox from day one. After Boston traded top catching prospect Kyle Teel to the White Sox, it signed Kolozsvary and Zavala as backup catching options. It also signed Blake Sabol and traded for Carlos Narváez, who will seemingly start their seasons in the minors.
Red Sox announce their list of 20 non-roster invitees including Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer
Bryan Mata has been a highly touted pitcher in the Sox's system since 2016, but near-constant injuries have kept the 25-year-old from the major leagues. Hopefully, he can stay healthy enough to show Red Sox Nation what he's capable of in the big leagues after his many setbacks.
Red Sox ownership group, Fenway Sports Group, hopes to sell minority share in Pittsburgh Penguins
Fenway Sports Group has become the villain in many Red Sox fans' stories since 2019. The group's portfolio expanded rapidly after Boston won the 2018 World Series, and one of its largest undertakings was the purchase of a controlling stake in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in 2021 for $900 million.
Now, FSG will take the team to market to sell a minority stake in its ownership, according to Emily Kaplan and Kevin Weekes of ESPN. It is unclear how large a stake FSG plans to sell, but it underwent a similar project in 2023 when it sold a share of Liverpool Football Club.
Red Sox fans shouldn't get too excited about their favorite team benefitting from any additional funds after the impending sale. In 2024, shortly after the minority sale of Liverpool, FSG invested heavily in the PGA and the group has been vocal about its plans to purchase an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.
