4 Prospects the Washington Nationals Will Promote in September
With the Washington Nationals currently 4.5 games behind the New York Mets in the division, now seems like an apt time to talk about next year and the prospects who could get their feet wet with a September call-up.
Primarily due to injury, the Nationals have thrown a number of their top prospects into the MLB fire this season. So most of the team's late-season promotions will have already made their big league debuts.
But we could see second-year pro and scourge of Triple-A International League pitchers, Trea Turner, earn his first call-up once the rosters expand from 25 men to 40.
That, coupled with the possibility of an open spot in Washington's rotation next season, makes for an intriguing September.
The following are four minor leaguers who could feature in storylines like those next month.
4. RHP Abel De Los Santos
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This list is primarily composed of players who have collected some major league service time this season. Abel De Los Santos falls into that category, but just barely.
The righty—who joined Washington this offseason as part of the trade that sent Ross Detwiler to the Texas Rangers—has two MLB appearances under his belt after a late-July call-up. De Los Santos pitched 1.2 relief innings across both games, amassing three strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA, courtesy of the one run he allowed.
Aaron Barrett remains on the 15-day disabled list, where he's been since August 8, and De Los Santos has already displaced Blake Treinen in the bullpen once this season. So the 22-year-old Dominican Republic native is highly qualified for a call-up when MLB's rosters expand in September.
3. SS Trea Turner
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The most embattled minor league prospect in recent memory, Trea Turner, has been taking out his frustrations on innocent baseballs this season.
Playing for the Double-A outfits of the Nationals and the San Diego Padres as well as Washington's Triple-A affiliate, Turner owns a .319 batting average across all levels this year. That number includes the .359 he posted for Double-A Harrisburg in the Nats organization, the first team he joined after completing the trade from San Diego to Washington.
September call-ups aren't strictly based on performances. Circumstances play a featured role in the decision. And in Turner's case, the circumstances include the likely departure of long-time Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond after the season.
With Washington soon to be in the market for a new everyday player at that position, manager Matt Williams suggested to MLB Network Radio that Turner could be in line to make his big league debut next month (h/t Federal Baseball).
"Williams: "Turner is getting his feet wet at Double-A here...There may be a September call-up to get acclimated to our team" #Nationals
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 18, 2015"
That was before the 22-year-old joined Triple-A Syracuse, where he currently resides, and maintained his smoking bat despite the increased level of competition. He's done his part to earn a September promotion; now the Nationals are left to decide if the time is right.
2. 2B/SS Wilmer Difo
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Wilmer Difo's average in eight major league at-bats is a deficient .125, but he continues to prove that he at least has the minors figured out.
After hitting .320 in 19 games with Single-A Advanced Potomac, he's batting .287 with 21 stolen bases for Double-A Harrisburg.
Difo is also coveted for his defense, which strengthens his case for a September call-up while the Nationals stare down the barrel of the end of the Desmond era at shortstop. In the early competition to replace Desmond, Difo is most likely trailing Turner. But position battles that are in their extreme infancy are tailor-made for September.
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1. RHP A.J. Cole
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A.J. Cole already finished his first cup of coffee in the majors, earning a 5.79 ERA across three games and 9.1 innings. However, he hasn't been on Washington's active roster since May.
But come September, when the Nationals can carry 40 players, Cole should be near the front of the line for a second helping.
Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister will both become free agents after the season, and it's unlikely Washington can afford to pay both pitchers. So, although Fister was recently jettisoned from the rotation to the bullpen, September will be an ideal window for the Nationals to groom prospects and hold auditions for new starting pitchers in 2016.
Cole is Washington's No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and he's the highest-ranked minor league pitcher on the list who has already made his MLB debut.
The righty's 3.69 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse this season is somewhat discouraging, but he's dropped that number in his last three starts, allowing just one earned run in each of those outings.
*All stats courtesy of MiLB.com
Danny Garrison is a Washington Nationals Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report.
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