Can Vidal Nuno make the Yankees' roster?

During every spring training, there are players who seemingly come out of nowhere and put together an impressive March. They either beat the odds by making a major league roster for opening day, or they at least make the general manager think long and hard before sending them back to the minors.

These are the feel-good stories of spring training.

This year, one such player might be former Wild Things pitcher Vidal Nuno, who has been making a strong case for a spot on the New York Yankees' roster come opening day.

Nuno, a lefty, was the Wild Things' opening day starter in 2011 (Darin Everson's second season as manager). He pitched six games for Washington, going 2-3 with a 2.83 ERA, before Everson received a phone call from a friend in the Yankees' player development office. The friend said the Yankees wanted some relief pitchers for their affiliate in the New York-Penn League. He asked if Everson knew of anyone in the Frontier League who could help. Everson quickly mentioned Nuno, who was a starter in Class A ball in the Cleveland Indians' system in 2010.

Nuno has rapidly moved up the ranks with the Yankees and was 9-5, 2.45 in 20 starts for Class AA Trenton last year.

This spring, Nuno has been in major league camp as a non-roster invitee, along with making a one-game exhibition stint playing for the Dominican Republic, which won the World Baseball Classic. In Grapefruit League games with the Yankees, the 25-year-old Nuno has allowed only one run and seven hits in 13 1/3 innings. Last week, he started for the Yankees against Boston and held the Red Sox to only two hits over five shutout innings.

When the Domincan Republic played an exhibition game against the Yankees in early March, DR manager Tony Pena "borrowed" Nuno to pitch for his team. Nuno threw four hitless innings against the Bronx Bombers. For his effort, Nuno was given a pat on the back and a souvenir Dominican Republic T-shirt and cap.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Nuno is a possibility for the last bullpen spot on the opening day roster.

"Obviously, Nuno has opened everybody's eyes and is taking a run at it, trying to force his way on," Cashman said. "We'll go with one lefty or we'll go with two."

While it's likely that Nuno will open the season in Class AAA so he can continue to be a starter and get more experience, it would quite be a feel-good story if he breaks camp with a spot in the major leagues.