When the Philadelphia Phillies came out with their list of non-roster invitees for training camp, one player that appeared on it to no surprise was top prospect Justin Crawford. Crawford is expected to be a major part of the Phillies roster going forward as manager Rob Thomson previously indicated that he was “going to get every chance to play,” per MLB.com.
However, among the names on the list, there are actually a few potential players who could actually surprise this spring and force their way onto the Phillies roster when all is said and done. As a result, we will take a look at three sneaky non-roster invitees that Philadelphia fans should pay attention to during spring training this year.
Here are 3 non-roster invitees who could sneak onto Phillies' Opening Day roster with a good spring training
Bryan De La Cruz, OF
It may be hard to believe that a productive, everyday MLB player just a couple of seasons ago could fall so much in value in just over a year’s time. But that has become the case for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz. After putting up back-to-back seasons of 60+ runs, 19+ home runs and 68+ RBIs in 2023 and 2024, De La Cruz had a truly forgettable 2025 campaign.
After signing a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves and getting the opportunity to become a major part of their outfield to start the year, the 29-year-old outfielder struggled mightily out of the gate. In his first 16 games with his new organization, De La Cruz compiled an abysmal .191 average, .453 OPS, and 18 strikeouts in 47 at-bats.
That performance earned him a quick exit out, with his permanent stay in the majors going along with it. After being claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees in early May, De La Cruz spent the rest of the season trapped in the minors with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre where he batted a respectable .271 with a .796 OPS, 15 home runs, and 48 RBIs in 91 games.
With the Phillies losing Weston Wilson through waivers to the Baltimore Orioles, the right-handed hitting De La Cruz could be the ideal replacement. He can play all three outfield positions and provide some pop with his bat. Added to his previous MLB experience being a solid offensive contributor, don’t be surprised if he manages to sneak his way onto the Opening Day roster.
Tim Mayza, LHP
Left-hander Tim Mayza was one of the surprise roster additions by the Phillies before the September roster deadline last year. Claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 30, Mayza appeared in just eight games for Philadelphia, compiling a 4.91 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
They must have seen something they liked as the Phillies recently re-signed Mayza to a minor league deal. The Phillies are likely hoping that the 34-year-old veteran can recapture some of his dominant form from 2023 when he put up a sparkling 1.52 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the lack of left-handed relievers left in their bullpen following the departure of Matt Strahm, Mayza could be vital as a key lefty specialist in 2026. He has held left-handed batters to a .214 average and .570 OPS over his eight-year MLB career.
Génesis Cabrera, LHP
Finally, the Phillies could get some surprising value from another lefty arm out of the bullpen in Génesis Cabrera, who signed a minor-league deal at the end of December. Equipped with a six-pitch arsenal, including a sinker, cutter, curveball, changeup, splitter and four-seam fastball, Cabrera has the ability to keep hitters guessing.
However, the 29-year-old reliever has battled inconsistency with command, leading to a bloated 6.54 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 2025, giving up 31 earned runs in just 42 2/3 total innings. His ongoing struggles prevented him from sticking with any one team as he ended up seeing action with four different MLB clubs last year.
Nevertheless, when Cabrera is on his game, he can be one of the most dominant lefty relievers in the game as witnessed during the stretch run with the Blue Jays in 2023. In 29 appearances, he amassed a stellar 2.66 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. Perhaps joining a legitimate contender like the Phillies can reignite that spark in his game and make him a solid MLB contributor once again.