Pitching prospects highlight Cardinals' NRIs

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitching prospects Dakota Hudson, Jordan Hicks and Ryan Helsley headline a crop of 23 non-roster players who have received an invitation to participate in big league camp this spring.
The group of non-roster invitees features eight players -- Hudson (No. 7), Randy Arozarena (No. 9) Max Schrock (No. 11), Hicks (No. 13), Jacob Woodford (No. 15), Helsley (No. 22), Tommy Edman (No. 24) and Andrew Knizner (No. 27) -- who finished 2017 ranked as a Top 30 Prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Also notable is the inclusion of right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon, who has fully recovered from being struck in the head by a line drive in an appearance last May. Poncedeleon underwent emergency brain surgery within hours of being hit and has not pitched in a game setting since.
The full list of non-roster invitees is as follows:
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Pitchers: Sean Gilmartin, Preston Guilmet, Helsley, Hicks, Hudson, Hector Mendoza, Poncedeleon, Arturo Reyes, Jordan Schafer, Woodford
Catchers: Steven Baron, Knizner, Jeremy Martinez, Dennis Ortega, Francisco Peña
Infielders: Edman, Alex Mejia, Rangel Ravelo, Schrock, Wilfredo Tovar, Patrick Wisdom
Outfielders: Arozarena, Jose Adolis Garcia
All pitchers and catchers are required to report to Jupiter, Fla., by Feb. 13, one day before the club holds its first official workout of Spring Training. The Cardinals' first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 19.
Numbers game
Not only have the Cardinals' offseason additions selected their uniform numbers, but several returning players have swapped in theirs for some new digits.
Changes are in order for pitchers Alex Reyes and Luke Weaver, who will take Nos. 29 and 7, respectively. The organization's top catching prospect, Carson Kelly, has also nabbed a new number befitting his rising place on the roster: No. 19.
Paul DeJong willingly gave No. 11 back to returning third-base coach Jose Oquendo and will use No. 12. And following his first full season in the Majors, José Martínez has switched to No. 38.
As for the team's three notable offseason acquisitions, they have selected Nos. 23 (Marcell Ozuna), 39 (Miles Mikolas) and 44 (Luke Gregerson). New pitching coach Mike Maddux will wear No. 31.