3 Diamondbacks Non-Roster Invitees Who Could Make the Opening Day Roster

One of the great things in my opinion about spring training is getting the entire spring training roster and all the players names and numbers so if you are a big autograph junkie like me, to see who all is in camp. As they approach you either in a game or on the back fields you can cheat and know their name before they get to you, and it gives you a chance to get their card or picture ready for them to sign. But when I go home and watch a game during spring training on television, I always go over the lengthy roster and try to pick a few guys who are not on the 40 man roster who I believe can actually make and help the team. This year I have selected three. But, only one of them will have to be added to the 40 man, as the other two can be placed on injured reserve and will have to help the club in the second half of the season. This season, I did not get the lengthy list for the Diamondbacks, but I did get the list of non-roster invitees from friends at Arizona Diamondbacks- stats and info, which I suggest you follow on Twitter.

Chris Devenski has had a career of ups and downs. He has gone from player to be named later to All-Star and World Series game winner. The Chicago White Sox selected Devenski in the 25th round, with the 771st overall selection, of the 2011 MLB baseball player Draft. Devenski was traded to the Houston Astros in August as the player to be named later in an earlier trade where the White Sox acquired Brett Myers. The Astros assigned him to the Lexington Legends of the Class A Midwest League where on August 31, in his fifth start for Lexington, he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts. For the 2013 season he again started in Lexington and in one of his downs pitched to a 7.88 ERA in 75.1 innings pitched and was demoted. 2014 saw Devenski once again go to Lexington but this time was promoted to the AA Corpus Christi Hooks. The next season he ended up finishing the season with a 3.01 ERA in 119.2 innings and in one of his ups was promoted to their AAA team specifically for the play-offs where he pitched 7 innings giving up only one hit helping the Fresno Grizzlies win the Triple-A National Championship. He was named both the AA Pitcher of the Year for the Hooks and the MVP for the Championship series with the Grizzlies.

In another up, the Astros promoted Devenski to the majors on April 8th where he finished the 2016 season with a 2.16 ERA in 48 appearances. On July 7th 2017 when he was named to the American League All-Star team he had a 2.09 ERA in 51.1 innings pitched, and led all major league relief pitchers in innings pitched, in strikeouts with 72, and tied for the most wins, with 6. And the down came on September 15, 2020, Devenski underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and missed the rest of the 2020 season. On January 20, 2021, Devenski signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and on March 29, 2021, Devenski was selected to the 40-man roster. On May 15, the downward spiral started, Devenski was placed on the 60-day injured list with a sprained right UCL. then on June 6, Devenski underwent Tommy John surgery, officially ending his 2021 season.

But, the good news is his last few baseball interactions have been down, so it is time for the 31 year old right-hander to now begin his upward trajectory. For his career, he has more strikeouts than innings pitched with 337 and 316.1. In his 6 year career his batting average against is .221 with a 26.5% strikeout and 6.7% walk rate. He will not be ready for opening day with his latest surgery on June 6th and Tommy John surgery usually has a 12-18 month turnaround. But, if he can come back and be effective toward the end of the year, that might be what the Diamondbacks need for a play-off push.