Pirates extend spring training invites to non-roster players, including 4 former No. 1 picks

Four former No. 1 draft picks are among the 26 non-roster players the Pittsburgh Pirates invited to spring training.

Infielder Nick Gonzales, the No. 7 overall pick in 2020 who is ranked their top prospect by MLB Pipeline, right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester (2019), outfielder Travis Swaggerty (2018) and infielder Will Craig (2016) received invites to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Priester was named the No. 58 prospect by Baseball America last week.

The #Pirates invited nine of their Top 30 prospects to Spring Training:

1. Nick Gonzales
4. Quinn Priester
5. Liover Peguero
7. Travis Swaggerty
13. Cody Bolton
15. Ji-Hwan Bae
17. Cal Mitchell
25. Mason Martin
26. Canaan Smith-Njigba

More on them here: https://t.co/rMPD4rKCuf pic.twitter.com/j7tBo9o2YT

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 2, 2021

The Pirates also invited top prospects in infielders Liover Peguero and Ji-Hwan Bae and right-handed pitcher Cody Bolton, as well as newly acquired players such as infielder Wilmer Difo, outfielders Canaan Smith-Njigba and Troy Stokes Jr., catcher Joe Hudson and right-handed pitchers Chase de Jong and Shea Spitzbarth.

Smith-Njigba was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade, while Spitzbarth was selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft in December.

Right-handers Yerry de los Santos, Jandel Gustave, Clay Holmes and James Marvel and lefties Braeden Ogle and Blake Weimer joined Bolton and Priester among the pitchers invited. Jason Delay, Christian Kelley, Arden Pabst and Andrew Susac join Hudson as catchers, and infielders Kevin Kramer and Mason Martin and outfielder Cal Mitchell also received invites.