Early Report Card Grades for MLB's Top September Call-Ups

It’s been a little over a week since rosters expanded and teams announced their September call-ups, but some of baseball’s top prospects have already made a splash in the major leagues.

So far, Cory Spangenberg of the San Diego Padres has stolen all the headlines after picking up the go-ahead hit in his big league debut and then belting a pinch-hit walk-off home run the next day. Overall, Spangenberg has hit safely in six of his first seven games in the major leagues.

Moving along, Yasiel Puig’s ongoing struggles at the plate have led to semi-regular playing time for outfielder Joc Pederson, and that could continue down the stretch. Meanwhile, third base already looks as though it will be Maikel Franco's (Philadelphia Phillies) to lose in 2015.

Lastly, 21-year-old left-handers Daniel Norris (Toronto Blue Jays) and Brandon Finnegan (Kansas City Royals) recently made their debuts, which is remarkable considering Norris began the season in the High-A Florida State League, while Finnegan took the mound every Friday night for Texas Christian University.

But how have the rest of the notable September call-ups fared in the major leagues?

Since very few of the big-name call-ups are playing on a regular basis, the grades assigned here are meant to reflect how each player has performed in his specific role.

Here are the early report card grades for MLB’s top September call-ups.

*All stats reflect games through Sept. 10 and are courtesy of MiLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com or FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats: 2-for-15 (.133), 2 BB, 7 K (7 G)

Pederson receives his first trip to the major leagues after recently being named MVP of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. This season, the 22-year-old outfielder led the PCL in home runs (33), OPS (1.017), on-base percentage (.435), runs scored (106) and walks (100) while ranking second in total bases (259).

He also became the first Pacific Coast League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season since Frank Demaree in 1934.

Pederson’s debut came earlier than expected on Monday night, as Don Mattingly called on him to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, two runners on base and the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing 6-4.

The youngster ripped a 2-1 fastball foul against Rafael Soriano before ultimately working a full count, but he was called out on strikes when the Washington Nationals closer painted a cutter on the outside corner.

Pederson has seen fairly regular playing time (at least compared to other September call-ups) since his promotion, receiving a few starts in center field with Yasiel Puig mired in a brutal second-half slump.

However, after collecting hits in two of his first three contests, Pederson has gone hitless with four strikeouts in his last nine at-bats.

Despite his slow start, Pederson should continue to receive healthy playing time as Puig struggles.

Grade: B-

Nick Tropeano, RHP, Houston Astros

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Stats: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (1 GS)

A fifth-round selection in the 2011 draft out of Stony Brook University, Nick Tropeano enjoyed his best season as a professional this year, and he did so in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Appearing in 23 games (20 starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City, the 24-year-old posted a 3.03 ERA, 0.987 WHIP and a 3.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 124.2 innings. On top of that, he also held opposing hitters to a .202/.262/.334 batting line in 486 plate appearances during that span.

The 6’4” right-hander picked up the win Wednesday in his big league debut, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. Tropeano walked two and struck out five, but he generally struggled with his command as only 45 of his 80 pitches went for strikes.

Grade: B

Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

Stats: 4-for-19 (.211), 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K (5 G)

Franco, 22, overcame a rough first half (.649 OPS in 87 games) and finally turned the corner in July, batting .324/.344/.579 with 30 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and 47 RBI over his final 54 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

After going just 1-for-8 in his first two big league games (with an RBI in each), he's since gone 3-for-8 with a double over his last two contests. He’s also flashed some leather with a pair of diving plays to his left and right, respectively.

Based on his first week-plus in the major leagues, it appears as though Franco will start roughly three of every five games down the stretch. Third base could be his position to lose next spring if he continues to impress as he has thus far.

Grade: B

Hunter Strickland, RHP, San Francisco Giants

Stats: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 K (3 G)

Hunter Strickland, 25, saved 11 games between High-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond this season, posting a 2.09 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .194 BAA and a ridiculous 13.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 38.2 innings (41 appearances).

The 6’4” right-hander made his debut on the day of his call-up with a scoreless eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies. He gave up hits to the first two batters he faced before settling in to complete the inning.

Since then, Strickland has turned in a pair of scoreless appearances out of the San Francisco Giants bullpen, allowing one hit with three strikeouts over two innings of work.

According to BrooksBaseball.net, Strickland’s fastball has sat at 98.44 mph and topped out at 100 in his big league debut.

Grade: B+

Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Stats: 7.1 IP, 1.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, .250 BAA, 2 BB, 6 K (2 G)

Taijuan Walker’s should-have-been rookie campaign was disrupted by a shoulder injury suffered during his second start of the season, as it kept him off the mound until late May.

After building up his arm strength, Walker made three starts for the Mariners between June 30 and July 23, registering a 3.60 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .133 batting average over 15 innings.

However, he struggled with his control and walked (13) nearly as many batters as he struck out (14).

Walker has made two appearances out of the bullpen since rejoining the Mariners. The first was an outstanding performance in long relief, as Walker fanned five over six innings against the Oakland A’s while allowing one run on six hits and two walks.

In his latest outing, the right-hander yielded one hit and tallied a strikeout over 1.1 scoreless frames.

Grade: B+

John Holdzkom, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Stats: SV, 3 IP, H, BB, 6 K (3 G)

John Holdzkom certainly wasn’t the most notable prospect called up on Sept. 1, but he may have been the most interesting.

Holdzkom, 26, last pitched professionally in 2012 in the California League, when he posted a 5.19 ERA with 13 walks in 8.2 innings for High-A Bakersfield (Reds).

He spent parts of the last two years pitching for Amarillo and Sioux City in the Independent American Association, which is where the Pittsburgh Pirates saw him and promptly signed him as a free agent.

Beyond that, Holdzkom officially has brought the palm ball—or as he calls, “The Palmer”—back to the major leagues.

The 6’7” right-hander was assigned directly to Double-A Altoona after signing, where he fanned 10 batters and allowed just one hit over six innings.

Holdzkom’s success continued after moving up to Triple-A Indianapolis, as he saved two games and pitched to a 2.49 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 21.2 innings before having his contract selected as a September call-up.

Holdzkom has been lights-out in his three appearances out of the Pirates bullpen, as he struck out the side in his big league debut and recorded his first save a few days later.

Overall, Holdzkom has fanned six of the first 10 batters he’s faced in the major leagues.

Grade: A-

Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Stats: 2 IP, 2 K (1 G)

Brandon Finnegan’s path to the major leagues this season is similar to Chris Sale’s in 2010, as he was drafted in the first round (No. 17 overall) out of college and rushed through the minors so as to be used in The Show down the stretch.

The 21-year-old left-hander began his professional career at High-A Wilmington, where he posted a 0.60 ERA, allowed five hits and fanned 13 batters in 15 innings.

The Kansas City Royals moved him up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in early August to work out of the bullpen, and the southpaw responded to the challenge by posting a 2.25 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings.

Finnegan made his big league debut last Saturday with two perfect innings at Yankee Stadium, the first of which coming against the heart of the New York lineup. The youngster struck out a pair and threw 17 of 26 pitches for strikes.

Grade: A-

Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Stats: 1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K (2 G)

Daniel Norris raced through the minor leagues this season, posting a 12-2 overall record with a 2.53 ERA, 1.115 WHIP and 3.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 124.2 innings (25 starts) between the High-, Double- and Triple-A levels. He also held opposing hitters to a .212 batting average during that span.

Norris made his highly anticipated debut on Sept. 5 against the Boston Red Sox, entering the game in the seventh inning to face David Ortiz with two outs and the tying run on second base.

The outcome couldn’t have been better for the 21-year-old left-hander, as he struck out Ortiz looking on a sharp, 3-2 curveball to preserve the lead.

After the game, he talked about his showdown with Oritz (via MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm):

"

I had been envisioning facing him. It's kind of weird that it ended up that way, but I knew there was a possibility I'd have to face him. I was thinking about the way I'd throw him, and sure enough, I got the call to be ready for Ortiz.

It's something I'll never forget. It's something that will be with me forever, one of those memories that will always be back there.

"

Norris made his second appearance on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, as he closed out the Toronto Blue Jays’ 9-2 win with a strikeout to cap a scoreless ninth inning.

Grade: A-

Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves

Stats: 5-for-12 (.417), 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, K (4 G)

Christian Bethancourt appeared in 13 games with the Atlanta Braves this season, batting .240/.283/.260 with 14 strikeouts during that span.

However, the 23-year-old spent most of his season at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he posted a good-but-not-great .283/.308/.408 batting line to go along with 26 extra-base hits (eight home runs) in 91 minor league games.

Bethancourt has been working closely with Gerald Laird since rejoining the Braves, as the veteran’s tutelage could be huge for the young catcher in terms of the 2015 season, especially if the Braves decide to trade Evan Gattis this winter.

"He's showed us that he's ready to go and he wants to win," former catcher and current bullpen coach Eddie Perez said, via Mark Bowman of MLB.com. "You don't teach that. We had never seen that from him. He wants to play and he wants to win."

Bethancourt has made the most of his playing time with Gattis battling illness, as he’s collected multiple hits and at least one RBI in two of his three starts.

Grade: A

Cory Spangenberg, 2B/3B/OF, San Diego Padres

Stats: 9-for-26 (.346), 2 HR, 2B, 6 RBI, SB, BB, 5 K (8 G)

Cory Spangenberg missed over two months this season, from mid-April to late June, but the 23-year-old swung a hot bat upon returning to Double-A San Antonio, batting .343/.378/.494 with 24 extra-base hits (seven triples) and 11 stolen bases in 54 games.

Spangenberg had a strong debut on the day of his call-up, making two nice plays at third base and going 1-for-3 with a two-run single, and he has now hit safely in seven of his first eight games and owns a five-game hitting streak.

With two home runs in 26 big league plate appearances, Spangenberg has matched his total this season over 337 plate appearances in the minors. His first was one to remember: a pinch-hit walk-off home run against the Diamondbacks in his second day in The Show.

Though he was drafted as a second baseman—No. 10 overall in the 2011 draft—Spangenberg has become a utility player over the last year, also seeing time in the outfield as well as at the hot corner.

Since joining the San Diego Padres, he’s played one game at the keystone, four at third and two in left field.

Grade: A