5 Mets non-roster invitees who need every inning possible in spring training

Knowing the growing list of New York Mets non-roster invitees to St. Lucie this spring will help to better understand what’s going on in those early games. Who’s that running onto the mound wearing number 97? It’s a nearly-30-year-old 12th round draft pick who spent three years in the Independent Leagues.

As meaningless as a large portion of spring training is for some players, the non-roster invitees get their first true showcase for the coaching staff in live action. When the clock hits and the season begins, it’s these five current non-roster invitees who should get every inning possible to show what they can do.

1) Cole Sulser

On his way to his age 34 season, Cole Sulser brings with him to the Mets a lifetime ERA of 3.87 in the major leagues. Not too shabby. The problem is that outside of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Orioles, he hasn’t been consistent. Nearly the recipient of a World Series ring last year because of his 4 games pitched with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he spent more time in the minors pitching to a 5.55 ERA.

Sulser is a product of the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays organizations where he has spent most of his professional seasons. Two franchises that pride themselves on developing pitching, Sulser just hasn’t been able to turn it into major league success outside of the one season in Baltimore.

He stands out a little more than some of the other non-roster invitees brought in because of his age and a remaining minor league option available. He’d fit in best as one of the rotational relievers whom the Mets can push back and forth between the majors and minors.

A two-time graduate of Tommy John surgery, it was a shoulder strain last year that limited his innings. As with many non-roster invitees, the expectations aren’t high. It’ll still come in handy to know exactly where Sulser falls on the pecking order.

3) Yacksel Rios

A bit more seasoned than many of the others on this list, it didn’t help much last year. Yacksel Rios had a 37.80 ERA last season in 1.2 frames for the Oakland Athletics. In 98.1 MLB innings, it rests at 6.32. Somehow he owns an 8-2 record. Go figure.

Rios did find some success last year in Triple-A with the Atlanta Braves, although it wasn’t enough for him to ever get promoted. In 25.1 innings for them, Rios posted a 2.49 ERA while taming his control a bit more than usual. He walked batters at a rate of 2.8 per 9 compared to the 10.7 strikeouts per 9 he had to go with it.

Hoping he’s someone Mets bullpen coach Jose Rosado can work with heavily this spring (the two know each other from Team Puerto Rico in the WBC), Rios is one of those hard-throwing righties whose control has been an issue throughout his career. Why give him innings in the spring? 

Rios lacks the minor league options which would make him a much more shoo-in to last the season. Far more likely to be a temporary option the Mets promote later in the season than needed, spring training games will at least answer if he’s a more immediate option or a Triple-A project.

4) Rylan Bannon

Consider Rylan Bannon as the infield version of Kohlwey. A 27-year-old who has already bounced around with several organizations and only received 21 total MLB plate appearances, his addition to the Mets roster is far less likely to have any payoff compared to his outfield colleague. All of Bannon’s minor league options have been exhausted. However, an increase in power and continued plate discipline made him interesting enough for the Mets to sign him to a minor league deal with an invite to St. Lucie.

Bannon hit .241/.360/.449 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI for the Houston Astros’ Triple-A squad in 2023. A versatile infielder capable of playing second base and third base most often, he got his first look at shortstop last season with 10 games. He wasn’t all that atrocious either. Don’t expect him to be the first the Mets promote if Francisco Lindor was to get hurt. The Mets have Joey Wendle and Jose Iglesias for that.

Bannon is on the younger side of where many non-roster invitees find themselves. Much like Rios, there are some positives but too many negatives to truly count on him to end up as a major contributor.

Nevertheless, it’s important we do see Bannon in the spring. He’s someone the Mets would promote over any of the prospects to prevent having to add them to the 40-man roster too quickly into their careers. Bannon could conceivably ride the bench if needed. You don't call up Luisangel Acuna to sit and watch. There isn’t much competition at all for Bannon other than Iglesias. We’ll be lucky if he becomes this year’s DJ Stewart.

5) Danny Young

Throw a baseball well left-handed and you’ll always be employed. It’s the best career advice anyone can offer. Danny Young has the left-handed part of it down. Now he just needs to continue to pitch well to avoid ever going hungry.

Now 29, Young impressed with the Atlanta Braves last season albeit across just 8.1 innings. His 1.08 ERA must’ve been an unexpected treat. He had a 6.32 ERA down in Triple-A.

The world will always need lefties on the mound. Young is in luck. The Mets don’t have a slew of lefties to choose from. One remaining minor league option can help him join the team several times throughout the campaign, too.

Young has spent most of his professional career as a reliever without ever putting up truly impressive totals over a long period of time. Other than being a temporary option for the Mets this year when they may need a southpaw in the bullpen, there isn’t a whole lot to get truly excited about unless, of course, somehow his success with the Braves in 2023 was for real.

Out of all of these players, Young may actually have the best shot at making the MLB roster to start the season. It really depends on the health of the other bullpen arms, specifically a guy like Brooks Raley. A closer look at Young in the spring will help determine if he’s even a favored option later in the season or if the Mets will pass right over and ask Nate Lavender for some outs.