Each year, every team in baseball enjoys a Cinderella story.
Every season, squads take cheap fliers on non-roster invitees and more often than not, one or two end up making the team.
The Cleveland Guardians are trying their luck and extended spring training invitations to 23 players currently not on their 40-man roster.
The organization itself posted the list of names on X.
Here are our 2025 Non-Roster Invitees to Major League Spring Training Camp.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/4F99PwuFCX
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) January 14, 2025
These 23 men all come from different backgrounds and are at varying stages in their respective careers.
Some of them are young minor leaguers eager for a chance to impress against the big boys: Ryan Webb, Dayan Frías, Milan Tolentino, Chase DeLauter and Kody Huff belong to this group.
You also have the seasoned veterans looking for one last chance to crack the roster, like Gold Glove-winning outfielder Myles Straw.
Some of these players will also be recovering from injury and trying to show they are as close to 100% as possible: this is the case of young slugger George Valera.
All of them, you can be sure, will be given a fair chance to win a spot among the 2025 Cleveland Guardians.
Few people had Cade Smith, for example, as a member of the Guardians in January 2024, but he earned his place and never looked back.
Tyler Freeman won the starting center field gig, and Estevan Florial occupied a spot on the bench.
The point is that unexpected things do happen in camp, and those who persevere and work hard on their game will eventually get a chance.
The Guardians hope that at least some of these players eventually emerge as options for the team throughout the long season.
NEXT: Guardians Star Prospect Adds More Muscle This Offseason
