BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox have added four non-roster invitees to the team’s 2026 Spring Training roster: infielder Brendan Rodgers, catcher Matt Thaiss, and right-handed pitchers Kyle Keller and Vinny Nittoli.
Brendan Rodgers, INF – Rodgers, 29, played 43 games in 2025 for the Houston Astros, batting .191 (22-for-115) while making 31 starts at second base and one as the designated hitter. The right-handed hitter was placed on the Injured List on June 18 with a left oblique strain and missed the remainder of the season. Originally selected by the Colorado Rockies in the first round (third overall) in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Florida native has hit .261 (471-for-1,805) with 96 doubles, eight triples, 47 home runs and 208 RBI in 495 career Major League games for the Rockies (2019-24) and Astros (2025). He has made 426 career starts at second base, 23 at shortstop, and 10 as the designated hitter.
Matt Thaiss, C – Thaiss, 30, split the 2025 season between the Chicago White Sox (35 games) and Tampa Bay Rays (25 games), hitting .218 (34-for-156) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, and 29 walks while making 48 starts at catcher and one as the designated hitter. The left-handed hitter also played 16 games for Triple-A Durham, batting .200 (11-for-55). Originally selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round (16th overall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the New Jersey native has hit .210 (172-for-819) with 29 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, and 95 RBI in 305 career Major League games for the Angels (2019-24), White Sox (2025), and Rays (2025). He has made 164 career starts at catcher, 31 at third base, 22 at first base, 13 as the designated hitter, one at second base, and one in left field.
Kyle Keller, RHP – Keller, 32, spent 2025 playing in his fourth consecutive season in Nippon Professional Baseball and second consecutive with the Yomiuri Giants, posting a 3.11 ERA (16 ER/46.1 IP) with 49 strikeouts in 45 games. In 158 career NPB games, the right-hander recorded a 2.42 ERA (41 ER/152.1 IP) with 177 strikeouts. Originally selected by the Miami Marlins in the 18th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Louisiana native has pitched in 44 career Major League games for the Marlins (2019), Los Angeles Angels (2020), and Pittsburgh Pirates (2021).
Vinny Nittoli, RHP – Nittoli, 35, split 2025 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles organizations, posting a 4.58 ERA (20 ER/39.1 IP) with 46 strikeouts in 37 Triple-A games (one start) between Nashville (27 games, one start) and Norfolk (10 games). The right-hander owns a 4.41 ERA (178 ER/363.0 IP) with 410 strikeouts in 258 career minor league games (17 starts). Originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 25th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, the Arizona native has recorded a 2.41 ERA (5 ER/18.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts in 15 career Major League games for the Mariners (2021), Philadelphia Phillies (2022), New York Mets (2023), Athletics (2024), and Orioles (2024).