Breaking Down the Top September Call-Up Candidate at Every Position
On September 1, each MLB team will have the opportunity to add 15 extra bodies to its roster. The following slides will highlight some of the top candidates at each position who could be included in those additions.
Teams will promote promising players for a variety of reasons.
Contenders will assess their rosters and try to find internal solutions for areas that could lead to an early demise in October. On the other end of the spectrum, struggling squads can use September to get a closer look at talented youngsters who could play an important role in 2016.
Corey Seager, Dalton Pompey and Aaron Judge are a few of the names that could end up sparking a contender to a postseason spot, while Jose Berrios, Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo will hope to use the next month to secure Opening Day roster spots in 2016.
Make sure to let your voices be heard in the comments section below. Will these players be able to help their respective squads down the stretch? Who are some other youngsters who could make an impact as September reinforcements?
Here we go!
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .274/.335/.482, 16 HR, 57 RBI, 46 R
Gary Sanchez has battled image problems for most of his career. The New York Yankees catcher was given a $3 million signing bonus at the age of 16 and has caused his fair share of headaches for the Yankees brass.
"Youthful mistakes and lack of maturity are expected for kids that get $3 million when they turn 16, but scouts are still regularly using expletives to describe Sanchez’s makeup," Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs wrote.
While those red flags surround him, Sanchez has regained some of the previous shine he once had as a top Yankees prospect. He's hitting .273 and has already surpassed his home run total from last season.
Sanchez has only played in 26 Triple-A games, but he's hit the ball well there (.301/.374/.505) and could be in line for a September promotion. He won't start over Brian McCann, but he could receive some at-bats in a reserve capacity.
First Base: Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .307/.377/.433, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 54 R
Pittsburgh Pirates first basemen rank 29th in WAR this season. Michael Morse has been brought on board to hopefully bolster that unit, but it remains the weak link on a deep, talented team.
Pittsburgh does have Josh Bell, a highly regarded first-base prospect, developing in the minors. While he may not be entirely ready for the next level, Bell could get an opportunity to earn some playing time in September.
Bell is a phenomenal hitter with advanced plate discipline. In 96 Double-A games, the 23-year-old posted a .376 on-base percentage due to very similar walk and strikeout rates.
Regardless, Bell has proven he can hit at every level of the minor leagues. If he's promoted next month, he could carve out a niche as a pinch hitter for a serious World Series contender.
Second Base: Jose Peraza, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2015 Stats (Triple-A): .300/.324/.394, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 59 R, 28 SB
Although it was only two games, the Los Angeles Dodgers infield prospect Jose Peraza has already tasted the big leagues in 2015.
L.A. will add Peraza to the roster once again in September, and he will give the Dodgers game-breaking speed off the bench.
The 21-year-old, who was acquired before the trade deadline from the Atlanta Braves, combines that speed with a contact-heavy approach at the plate. At Triple-A this season, Peraza has only struck out 38 times in 437 plate appearances.
Since joining L.A.'s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, he's hitting .348 with a .375 on-base percentage, which he hopes will lead to another promotion.
"I’ve just been working really hard, and I want to keep doing that now," Peraza told Jacob Unruh of the Oklahoman. "As soon as I got here, I wanted to show them what I could do, and when I got there I showed them as well. So I’m just going to come back here and do the same thing so they can call me up again."
There are still questions regarding his potential upside, but Peraza does certain things extremely well. Expect the Dodgers to utilize those talents to aid their postseason push.
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Third Base: Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .251/.354/.556, 22 HR, 59 RBI, 37 R
Joey Gallo launched five homers in 25 games for the Texas Rangers earlier this season, but a 43.9 percent strikeout rate landed him right back in the minors.
Gallo's struggles have continued since that demotion. His Triple-A average has dipped to a .203 mark, and he's still whiffing over 37 percent of the time.
Despite the K's, Gallo's power is a rare commodity in today's game. The 21-year-old has gone deep 40 or more times in each of the last two seasons and is considered an 80 in raw power by MLB.com on the 20-80 scouting scale.
"Signed for $2.25 million as the 39th overall pick in 2012, Gallo derives tremendous strength and leverage from his 6'5" frame," the site said. "He also has outstanding bat speed and an aggressive approach, and it all adds up to tape-measure blasts on a regular basis."
Realistically, Gallo should be ready to take over an everyday spot for the Rangers next season. 2015 has been a roller coaster of a year, but a bright September finish would be a much-needed confidence boost for a player with unlimited potential.
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .295/.347/.479, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 66 R
What more can Corey Seager do in the minor leagues?
In 2014, Seager established himself as one of the game's top prospects by crushing High-A pitching. In 80 games, he hit .352 with 18 homers and drove in 70 runs.
For an encore, Seager has been equally as impressive this season. The 21-year-old has advanced all the way to Triple-A after hitting .375 in 20 Double-A games. Seager was slow to adjust to Triple-A, but he's heated up as the year has progressed to mash nine homers and hit .276.
Seager is arguably the most well-rounded hitter in the minor leagues. He generates hard contact to all parts of the field while maintaining manageable strikeout rates. He's also proven to be equally capable against left-handed pitching, posting an .872 OPS this season.
While Seager isn't as polished defensively, his athleticism and arm strength should be enough to keep him at short for the first part of his career. If he has to move to third, Seager has the tools to be a plus defender at the hot corner.
But Seager's value lies in his bat. The Dodgers are still winning without production from Jimmy Rollins, but they could give their top overall prospect an opportunity to prove what he can do over the season's closing weeks.
Regardless, Seager is primed to be a key cog in L.A.'s lineup in 2016 and for many years to come.
Left Field: Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers
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2015 Stats (Double-A): .284/.357/.443, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 57 R
The Texas Rangers parted with multiple key prospects to acquire Cole Hamels before the trade deadline, but holding on to outfielder Nomar Mazara could prove to be as important as adding a perennial ace.
At just 20, Mazara has held his own against much more mature pitching in Double-A this season. In 111 games, he's slashing .284/.357/.443 with 13 homers and 56 RBI.
It's always a promising sign when a youngster has a quality understanding of the strike zone, and Mazara has displayed that in his young career. In 2015, a 19.6 percent strikeout rate has been offset by a double-digit walk rate.
Mazara made a significant adjustment this season by "toning down a big leg kick that had compromised his bat speed," according to MLB.com. Considering baseball is a game predicated on adjusting to your opponent, Mazara's willingness to try something different indicates he's mature enough to handle the scrutiny of the big leagues.
The Rangers don't need to rush him, but Mazara will have played in close to 150 Double-A games by the end of the season. Why not see how he fares against big league pitching down the stretch in September?
Center Field: Dalton Pompey, Toronto Blue Jays
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .310/.388/.433, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 63 R, 21 SB
Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Dalton Pompey began the season in the majors but wasn't able to live up to the preseason hype. In 23 games, Pompey hit .193 with a 24.2 percent strikeout rate.
Those struggles led to a demotion all the way to Double-A, where Pompey continued to struggle. But the outfielder was able to overcome a disappointing start and has been on fire ever since.
After raising his average in Double-A to a .351 mark in 31 games, Pompey was promoted to Triple-A. He's cooled off a bit, but Pompey is slashing .284/.378/.358 and has swiped 14 bags in 51 games.
It's been nice to see Pompey regain his confidence, because he's a player with an impressive tool belt. He's an exceptional athlete who can hit from either side of the plate. Pompey hasn't always put the ball in play consistently, but he's maintained quality walk rates throughout his minor league career.
The Jays have been on fire since making a bevy of deals before the deadline, and they are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since winning it all in 1993.
After proving to be all-in last month, expect Toronto to have all hands on deck over the coming weeks. A toolsy fourth outfielder with fantastic baserunning ability like Pompey would give manager John Gibbons a variety of options in the late innings.
Right Field: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): .269/.341/.474, 18 HR, 68 RBI, 55 R
Aaron Judge doesn't look like a baseball player.
The 6'7", 275-pound behemoth seems like he should be suiting up on Sundays for the New York Jets or Giants rather than playing right field in the New York Yankees farm system.
Judge's impressive stature should lend itself to mashing baseballs, and that's exactly what the 23-year-old does best. In 2015, Judge has gone deep 18 times and driven in 68 runs between Double-A and Triple-A.
Obviously, a player with such power is prone to the strikeout. Judge has battled contact issues throughout his career, but he's managed to keep his strikeout percentage under 30 percent and has posted double-digit walk rates at more than one minor league stop.
Power doesn't grow on trees, which makes Judge a valuable commodity. The Yankees didn't include him in any deadline deals, proving they consider him a key part of their future.
But Judge will get a chance to make an impact in the more immediate future. He won't be an everyday bat, but which contender wouldn't love to add another home run threat to its bench?
Fortunately for the Yankees, there may not be a better slugger in all of minor league baseball than Judge.
Right-Handed Pitcher: Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
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2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): 11-5, 3.18 ERA, 141.1 IP, 143 K, 36 BB
The Minnesota Twins aren't hurting for young talent, and right-hander Jose Berrios is more evidence of that fact.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding minor league career. In 2014, Berrios posted a 1.96 ERA in 16 High-A starts. After making starts in Double-A and Triple-A last season, the right-hander is on pace to log a career high in innings pitched.
Berrios may be ready for a big league challenge, but that increasing innings count could play a factor in the Twins decision.
“We’re certainly monitoring that,” general manager Terry Ryan told Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “You’re always concerned about large increments from one year to the next.”
Even if Berrios is called up in a bullpen capacity, the baseball world will get a good look at his polished skill set. His heater ranged from 92 to 95 mph and gets on hitters quickly. Berrios offers two off-speed pitches—a changeup and a slow curve—that give him effective weapons against left-handers and right-handers, respectively.
Berrios may not have the highest ceiling, but his floor is extremely high. He has three quality pitches and has no problem throwing strikes. Expect Minnesota to let him get his feet wet to close the season with the intent of deploying him in the 2016 rotation out of camp.
Left-Handed Pitcher: Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2015 Stats (Rookie/High-A/Double-A): 2-4, 3.38 ERA, 64 IP, 72 K, 15 BB
America loves a good phenom, and 19-year-old Julio Urias could be the next one to blossom into stardom over the next year.
Urias is definitely young, but he's proven to be advanced well beyond his years. After signing with Los Angeles in 2012, the southpaw has dominated opposing hitters:
| Year | Level | Record | Innings | K/9 | BB/9 | ERA |
| 2013 | A | 2-0 | 54.1 | 11.10 | 2.65 | 2.48 |
| 2014 | A+ | 2-2 | 87.2 | 11.19 | 3.80 | 2.36 |
| 2015 | AA | 2-4 | 56.1 | 10.07 | 2.24 | 3.20 |
Obviously, the strikeout totals jump off the page. Urias is able to befuddle hitters due to a three-pitch arsenal of swing-and-miss offerings: a mid-90s heater that he can manipulate on either side of the plate, a big curveball and a changeup that falls off the table.
But plenty of pitchers have nasty stuff. What separates Urias is an uncanny ability to throw each of those pitches for strikes in any count. Considering he's still a teenager, his command and confidence in those offerings should only increase.
Look, Urias has yet to log 100 innings in a professional season. He's still learning and shouldn't be rushed to the big leagues until the time is right.
But the Dodgers have major concerns in the bullpen. If Urias is healthy, don't be surprised to see L.A. deploy him in a late-inning capacity down the stretch.
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