September Call-Ups: Ranking the Top 25 MLB Prospects Likely to Be Promoted
The July trade deadline and the August waiver period are not the only ways teams can add to their rosters for the stretch run, as September also brings an influx of new players when the active rosters expand from 25 to 40.
Generally this is a time when teams promote the guys who have bounced between the minors and majors for most of the season, adding a few arms to the bullpen and bats to the bench in the process.
However, there are always at least a handful of top prospects who are given a chance to show what they can do during this time as well.
Last season, names like Joc Pederson, Daniel Norris, Maikel Franco, Dalton Pompey, Cory Spangenberg and Brandon Finnegan headlined the crop of September prospect promotions.
So who could we see get the call this year?
What follows is my best guess at the top 25 prospects likely to be promoted when Sept. 1 rolls around.
A few things to consider before we begin:
- Prospects are ranked based on their overall ceiling and future upside, not necessarily on the impact they are expected to make over the final month of the season.
- To be considered for inclusion, a player must still have rookie eligibility (130 AB, 50 IP), so you won't see names like Javier Baez or Lance McCullers on the following list.
- Atlanta Braves prospect Hector Olivera was not included, as I expect him to be promoted as soon as he's finished rehabbing and likely ahead of the Sept. 1 expansion date.
Hopefully that clarifies what we were looking for when putting these rankings together. Now on with the show.
25. RP Luke Jackson, Texas Rangers
1 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
38 G, 5 GS, 2-3, 4.25 ERA, 1.431 WHIP, 33 BB, 78 K, 65.2 IP
Prospect Overview
Not too terribly long ago, Luke Jackson was one of the top pitching prospects in a deep Texas Rangers farm system.
After going 10-7 with a 4.65 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 129.2 innings as a 20-year-old back in 2012, he opened the 2013 season as the team's No. 6 prospect, according to Baseball America.
He followed that up with an even better 2013 campaign, posting an 11-4 record with a 2.04 ERA, 1.180 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 128 innings while reaching Double-A for four terrific starts to close out the year.
However, he was shelled making the jump to Triple-A last year to the tune of a 10.35 ERA and 2.100 WHIP, and the lack of a reliable third pitch was largely to blame.
That made a move to the bullpen this season an easy decision, and his stuff has played up since making the transition, as he has a 3.53 ERA and 12.7 K/9 in 33 appearances out of the pen.
With a fastball that sits in the high 90s and a hard-biting curveball, he has the two-pitch repertoire needed to succeed in the late innings, and he should be able to help the Rangers as they look to sneak into the postseason.
24. SP Tim Cooney, St. Louis Cardinals
2 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
14 GS, 6-4, 2.74 ERA, 0.868 WHIP, 16 BB, 63 K, 88.2 IP
Prospect Overview
Left-hander Tim Cooney does not have overpowering stuff by any means, and in a terrific St. Louis Cardinals farm system, he ranked as the seventh-best prospect overall and fifth-best pitching prospect entering the season, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
He's been called upon to fill the No. 5 starter spot on more than one occasion this year, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.213 WHIP in 31.1 innings of work spanning six starts.
For most 24-year-old pitchers, that kind of performance would warrant an extended look, but the Cardinals aren't most teams when it comes to pitching, as their rotation is having a historically good year.
That being said, don't be surprised if Cooney emerges as a useful third left-hander out of the bullpen down the stretch, much like Marco Gonzales did last year on his way to winning a spot on the postseason roster.
23. RF Rymer Liriano, San Diego Padres
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
118 G, .280/.375/.429, 118 H, 26 2B, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 76 R, 16 SB
Prospect Overview
Rymer Liriano once ranked as highly as the No. 2 prospect in the San Diego Padres system and the No. 49 prospect in all of baseball back in 2012, according to Baseball America.
That came on the heels of a fantastic 2011 season that saw him hit .298/.365/.465 with 31 doubles and 12 home runs while reaching the High-A level at the age of 20.
He's moved slowly in the year since, and some of his prospect star has faded, but he still began this season as the team's No. 8 prospect.
Liriano saw his first taste of big league action last August, hitting .220/.289/.266 with two doubles and one home run in 109 at-bats down the stretch.
At this point it appears he's been passed by Hunter Renfroe, Travis Jankowski and Michael Gettys among the team's outfield prospects, while veterans Matt Kemp and Wil Myers are also part of the team's long-term picture.
That could mean he's auditioning as a potential offseason trade chip, but at 24 years old, he doesn't have much left to prove at the minor league level.
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22. 3B Kyle Kubitza, Los Angeles Angels
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
105 G, .275/.357/.444, 114 H, 41 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 59 R, 6 SB
Prospect Overview
It's rare that teams swap highly regarded prospects without any major league talent being involved, but that's exactly how the Los Angeles Angels came to acquire third baseman Kyle Kubitza this past offseason.
In exchange, the team sent starter Ricardo Sanchez and reliever Nate Hyatt to the Atlanta Braves, with Sanchez ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect by Baseball America at the time.
Kubitza gives the Angels what they hope will be their third baseman of the near future, with David Freese set to hit free agency this offseason and prospect Kaleb Cowart having yet to prove he's a future everyday player.
The 25-year-old Kubitza enjoyed a terrific all-around season in 2014, hitting .295/.405/.470 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, eight home runs, 55 RBI and 21 steals in a full season in Double-A.
He's a plus defender and a good all-around athlete who has room to develop more in-game power as he matures, and he may very well be auditioning for a job in 2016 down the stretch.
21. SP Michael Feliz, Houston Astros
5 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Double-A)
22 G, 16 GS, 7-4, 2.91 ERA, 1.044 WHIP, 30 BB, 97 K, 105.1 IP
Prospect Overview
The big name returning to the Houston Astros staff come September will be Lance McCullers, who has been taking time off in the minors to limit his innings for the stretch run.
He's not the only pitching prospect who could make an impact down the stretch, though, and no, we're still not talking about former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel here.
Instead, let's focus on right-hander Michael Feliz.
The 22-year-old was a Futures Game participant in 2014 and added to the 40-man roster this past offseason, before beginning the season as the team's No. 5 prospect, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
MLB.com's Prospect Watch had the following to say: "Big and physical, Feliz has a power arsenal. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and gets up to 98 mph. His slider is his best secondary offering, and his changeup gives him a third quality offering. If he can make the necessary adjustments, he'll have all the makings of a front-line starter."
He made one relief appearance earlier this season, throwing a scoreless inning, and as a 40-man roster member, there's no reason not to bring him back when rosters expand.
20. RF Steven Moya, Detroit Tigers
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2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Triple-A)
122 G, .241/.282/.429, 117 H, 28 2B, 21 HR, 74 RBI, 50 R, 4 SB
Prospect Overview
Steven Moya began the 2014 season as the No. 15 prospect in a relatively weak Detroit Tigers farm system, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
That came after he posted a .729 OPS with 19 doubles and 12 home runs in a full season at High-A Lakeland, but he would wind up being one of the breakout prospects of 2014.
Making the jump to Double-A, Moya hit .276/.306/.555 with 33 doubles, 35 home runs and 105 RBI to win Eastern League MVP and climb to the team's No. 1 prospect spot in the process.
His power potential remains intriguing as his big 6'7", 260-pound frame continues to fill out, but it's clear he needs to refine his approach if he's going to succeed at the highest level.
The 24-year-old has a 30.4 percent strikeout rate, compared to a 4.8 percent walk rate, and that's right in line with where he was last season, so he hasn't shown much in the way of progress here in 2015.
19. SP/RP Alex Meyer, Minnesota Twins
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
34 G, 8 GS, 4-5, 5.29 ERA, 1.668 WHIP, 45 BB, 88 K, 83.1 IP
Prospect Overview
Alex Meyer entered spring training as the league's No. 62 prospect, according to Baseball America, and with what appeared to be a very real chance at winning a spot in the Minnesota Twins rotation.
The big 6'9" right-hander came to the Twins in the deal that sent Denard Span to Washington, and after going 7-7 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.381 WHIP and 153 strikeouts in 130.1 innings in a full season at Triple-A, he certainly looked big league-ready.
While Tommy Milone eventually edged him out for the No. 5 starter job, he was still expected to make a significant impact here in 2015, but instead he's taken a significant step back.
Sketchy command (4.9 BB/9) and a sudden inability to miss bats (10.2 K/9) has led to a rough 1.688 WHIP, and his ERA has climbed to 5.29 in the process.
However, after going 2-3 with a 7.09 ERA and 1.71 K/B ratio in eight starts to begin the year, he moved to the bullpen, where he's been much better with a 4.44 ERA and 2.08 K/BB ratio in 28 appearances.
Obviously the hope was that he would emerge as a front-line starter, but his power stuff has a chance to play up in the bullpen where he could be a legitimate weapon down the stretch.
18. 2B Micah Johnson, Chicago White Sox
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2015 MiLB Stats (Rookie and Triple-A)
71 G, .329/.385/.486, 92 H, 17 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 51 R, 26 SB
Prospect Overview
Micah Johnson has a chance to be an absolute steal for the Chicago White Sox after being selected in the ninth round back in 2012, but he still has some things to iron out at this point.
The Indiana University product hit .294/.351/.403 with 22 stolen bases in 2014 while splitting the season between Double-A and Triple-A, earning a spot in the Futures Game in the process.
He entered spring training in a battle with Carlos Sanchez for the starting second base gig, and he won the job to start the season with a 20-for-59 (.339 BA) performance.
While he held his own at the plate with a .270/.333/.297 line over 74 at-bats, his defense was another story (-7 DRS and -23.3 UZR/150, per FanGraphs), and it got bad enough with the glove that he was demoted in the middle of May.
The 24-year-old has not been back since, spending the rest of the year in Triple-A working on his all-around game. He still has a good chance to be the everyday second baseman long term, though, and should get a long look down the stretch.
17. SP Zach Lee, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
19 GS, 12-5, 2.51 ERA, 1.024 WHIP, 20 BB, 78 K, 111.1 IP
Prospect Overview
Zach Lee committed to LSU to play quarterback out of high school, but he was lured away from that commitment when the Los Angeles Dodgers took him with the No. 28 pick in the 2010 draft and gave him a franchise-record $5.25 million draft bonus.
He's had mixed results during his time in the minors to this point, and he struggled in his first taste of Triple-A action last season.
Lee finished the year at 7-13 with a 5.39 ERA, 1.537 WHIP and .297 BAA, while striking out hitters at just a 5.8 K/9 rate.
His strikeout numbers are still mediocre (6.3 K/9), but he's improved across the board in his second go-around this year and is now knocking on the door.
Despite seeing his prospect star fade a bit, Lee is still only 23 years old, and the potential remains for him to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter.
The Dodgers may not be willing to give him a star in the heat of a division race, but he could certainly help in a beleaguered bullpen.
16. 2B/3B Brandon Drury, Arizona Diamondbacks
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
124 G, .304/.344/.412, 152 H, 37 2B, 5 HR, 58 RBI, 59 R, 4 SB
Prospect Overview
Brandon Drury was part of the package of players dealt by the Atlanta Braves to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Justin Upton prior to the 2013 season.
After a strong performance (.862 OPS, 51 2B, 15 HR, 85 RBI) over a full season in Single-A in 2013, he put up similar numbers last year with slightly better power (.872 OPS, 42 2B, 23 HR, 95 RBI) between High-A and Double-A.
Primarily a third baseman early in his career, he's split his time between second and third this year, and as always, there is value in versatility.
Incumbent second baseman Chris Owings (.235 BA, .599 OPS) has taken a big step backward this season offensively, and Drury could push him for playing time next year, especially if he impresses down the stretch.
The 23-year-old Drury has not flashed the same pop this season with just five home runs in 496 at-bats, but he's continued to hit while splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A, and his bat should carry him to the bigs.
15. SP Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
23 G, 22 GS, 6-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.341 WHIP, 44 BB, 98 K, 122.1 IP
Prospect Overview
A 26th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school back in 2011, Zach Davies was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the deadline in exchange for outfielder Gerardo Parra.
His fastball doesn't light up the radar gun, but he commands it well and pairs it with what might be the best changeup in minor league baseball and a curveball that gives him a third plus offering.
All of that has added up to success at every level, despite an undersized 6'0", 160-pound frame and a repertoire that is by no means prototypical front-line stuff.
"Davies' ceiling is obviously limited, but it's becoming more and more apparent that he has a good chance of reaching his upside as a No. 4 or 5 starter in the near future," wrote MLB.com's Prospect Watch.
He's struggled a bit since joining the Brewers, posting a 5.14 ERA and 1.905 WHIP in four starts, but the 22-year-old has a real shot at stepping into a rotation spot in the majors at some point in 2016.
14. 2B Rob Refsnyder, New York Yankees
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2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
112 G, .272/.363/.400, 116 H, 24 2B, 9 HR, 53 RBI, 64 R, 11 SB
Prospect Overview
Rob Refsnyder was a fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees after a standout career at the University of Arizona, and he was one of the biggest breakout prospects of 2014.
On the heels of a solid 2013 season, Refsnyder hit .318/.387/.497 with 38 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 RBI and 82 runs scored, splitting the season between Double-A and Triple-A in his first taste of the high minors.
Many thought that would be enough for the Yankees to hand him the everyday second base job here in 2015, but instead the team opted to bring back veteran Stephen Drew on a one-year, $5 million deal.
"The reason Drew has been getting the bulk of the playing time this year, obviously he's the best option that we've had," GM Brian Cashman told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.
That's debatable.
Drew has 14 doubles and 15 home runs on the year, but he's hitting just .199 and his defense has graded out below average (-3 DRS and -3.0 UZR/150, per FanGraphs).
The 24-year-old Refsnyder went 2-for-12 with a home run during a one-week stint in the majors back in July, and there's no reason not to bring him back for the final month as a 40-man roster member.
How much he would play remains to be seen, though.
13. SP/RP Miguel Castro, Colorado Rockies
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2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Triple-A)
25 G, 5 GS, 2-3, 3.03 ERA, 1.430 WHIP, 20 BB, 36 K, 35.2 IP
Prospect Overview
Jeff Hoffman was the highest-profile pitching prospect sent to the Colorado Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal, but it's another arm from that trade in Miguel Castro who appears to be in line for a September call-up.
Just 20 years old and having never pitched above the High-A level, Castro broke camp with a spot in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen this season.
He began the year with a 1.04 ERA and three saves in four chances over his first eight appearances but hit a rough patch from there.
Castro allowed a run in four of his next five appearances, with his ERA climbing to 4.38 in the process, and he was sent back to the minors on May 4.
The right-hander has a 1.64 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in nine relief appearances since joining Triple-A Albuquerque following the trade, so he's pitching well right now.
His future may still be in the rotation, and he's only thrown 48 total innings on the year, so giving him some work down the stretch makes sense.
12. C Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
92 G, .276/.332/.489, 100 H, 23 2B, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 50 R, 7 SB
Prospect Overview
Gary Sanchez has seemingly been among the New York Yankees' top prospects for the past decade, so it may come as a surprise to some to learn he is still just 22 years old.
He burst onto the top-prospect scene in 2010 when he hit .329/.393/.543 with 13 doubles and eight home runs in 173 at-bats while reaching Low-A at the age of 17.
He hasn't exploded like many expected, but he's tallied double-digit home runs in each season since his 2010 breakout, and he's continued to hit since reaching the higher levels of the minors.
That includes a .270/.338/.406 line with 19 doubles and 13 home runs in a full season at Double-A last year, and he began the season ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Yankees system, per Baseball America.
He made the jump to Triple-A this year on July 18 and has been on fire since the promotion, posting a .302/.357/.512 line that includes 15 extra-base hits in 34 games.
That should lead to a September debut, but the question remains exactly where he fits into the plans for 2016 and beyond with Brian McCann and John Ryan Murphy both in the picture.
11. 1B/OF Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins
15 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Double-A)
106 G, .332/.415/.548, 130 H, 34 2B, 12 3B, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 76 R, 17 SB
Prospect Overview
A quick list of the best German-born players in MLB history, according to WAR:
- 2B Glenn Hubbard (19.1 WAR)
- SP Charles "Pretzels" Getzien (19.0 WAR)
- SP Edwin Jackson (9.7 WAR)
- RP Craig Lefferts (9.4 WAR)
- 3B Mike Blowers (4.3 WAR)
Full disclosure, I really just wanted a reason to reference "Pretzels" Getzien, but you get the point. Not many players have come from Germany and enjoyed significant big league success.
Minnesota Twins prospect Max Kepler, who was born in Berlin, is in the middle of a breakout season and has a legitimate chance to top that list before his career comes to an end.
Kepler spent three seasons in rookie ball to begin his career, and he followed that up with so-so numbers at Single-A in 2013 (.237 BA, .736 OPS) and High-A in 2014 (.264 BA, .726 OPS) to enter this season as the team's No. 12 prospect, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
He's played at least 10 games at all three outfield positions and first base this season, and that versatility should serve him well in carving out a big league role.
The 22-year-old is already on the 40-man roster, so there's no reason not to reward his breakout season with a cup of coffee.
10. 1B A.J. Reed, Houston Astros
16 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Double-A)
122 G, .343/.437/.609, 161 H, 25 2B, 30 HR, 112 RBI, 101 R, 0 SB
Prospect Overview
A two-way stud at Kentucky, A.J. Reed hit .336/.476/.735 with 23 home runs and 73 RBI during his junior season while also going 12-2 with a 2.09 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 112 innings on the mound to win Golden Spikes honors.
He's made the full-time move to first base as a pro, and it looks like the right decision, as he had an .898 OPS with 20 doubles and 12 home runs in 249 at-bats after signing last year.
The 22-year-old has been even better this season, and while he has yet to play above the Double-A level, he may already be the best first baseman in the Houston Astros organization.
Chris Carter, Jon Singleton, Marwin Gonzalez and Luis Valbuena have all seen time at the position, and the result has been a combined .199/.301/.374 line with 19 home runs and 53 RBI in 428 at-bats.
Meanwhile, Reed has over twice as many RBI (112) in nearly the same number of at-bats (470).
He's more than held his own since making the jump to Double-A, with a .336/.409/.546 line in 40 games, and he could really provide a spark as the Astros look to nail down the AL West title.
9. RP Carl Edwards Jr., Chicago Cubs
17 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
34 G, 5-3, 6 SV, 2.87 ERA, 1.238 WHIP, 41 BB, 73 K, 53.1 IP
Prospect Overview
Carl Edwards Jr. was one of four players acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Matt Garza back in 2013, and he could soon join two others from that deal—Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez—in the Chicago Cubs bullpen.
A former 48th-round pick out of high school back in 2011, Edwards' coming-out party came in 2013 when he went 8-2 with a 1.86 ERA, 1.006 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 116.1 innings.
Despite those impressive numbers as a starter, many still viewed him as a reliever long-term due to his undersized 170-pound frame.
He may still wind up getting a chance to start down the road, but he made the move to the bullpen this year in an effort to expedite his arrival in the majors.
His 6.9 BB/9 walk rate is the biggest reason he hasn't already received the call, but as a member of the 40-man roster, that will likely change in September.
He's currently working on six straight scoreless appearances, during which time opponents are hitting .161 and he's walked just four in 8.1 innings of work.
8. CF Dalton Pompey, Toronto Blue Jays
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
90 G, .310/.386/.422, 113 H, 9 2B, 7 3B, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 68 R, 22 SB
Prospect Overview
Dalton Pompey opened the 2014 season at the High-A level and ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
By season's end, he had hit .317/.392/.469 and stolen 51 bases over three levels of the minors and was rewarded with a September call-up.
With Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus both departing in free agency, all signs pointed to Pompey being the team's everyday center fielder in 2015, and he broke camp in that role.
However, he hit just .193/.264/.337 with 22 strikeouts in 22 games before being shipped back to Double-A to work out the kinks.
After hitting .351/.405/.545 in 31 games in Double-A, the 22-year-old was promoted to Triple-A and has been playing there since, waiting for a return trip to the big leagues.
Pompey is still very much a part of the team's long-term plans, and a strong final month could again put him in line for a starting outfield gig in 2016.
7. 2B Jose Peraza, Los Angeles Dodgers
19 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (Triple-A)
117 G, .292/.315/.378, 139 H, 13 2B, 8 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 63 R, 32 SB
Prospect Overview
The most impressive tool for Jose Peraza has always been his speed, but he took his offensive game to another level in 2014 when he hit .339/.364/.441 en route to his second 60-plus steal season in a row.
Many had him pegged as the second baseman of the future for the Atlanta Braves, with a realistic chance he'd take over that job at some point this season, but instead he wound as a trade chip at the deadline.
His 3.3 percent walk rate and .315 on-base percentage don't exactly give him the profile of a future leadoff hitter as things currently stand, but there is still time for the 21-year-old to improve his overall approach at the dish.
He earned a brief promotion earlier this month, playing two games with the Dodgers and going 1-for-6 with a triple before being sent back to the minors.
The addition of Chase Utley and eventual return of Howie Kendrick will mean limited at-bats at second base down the stretch, but with both players headed for free agency, there's a realistic chance he could step into the starting second base job in 2016.
6. 3B Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
81 G, .240/.346/.527, 72 H, 18 2B, 22 HR, 59 RBI, 38 R, 2 SB
Prospect Overview
There's no denying the tremendous raw power Joey Gallo possesses.
He's launched an impressive 126 home runs in 377 career minor league games, and he added another five in 87 at-bats during a call-up earlier this season.
However, he's also fanned a whopping 34.7 percent of the time in the minors, and he was punched out 43 times in just 87 at-bats during his brief promotion.
For the sake of comparison, Adam Dunn—who struck out a whopping 2,379 times in his career—whiffed only 18.2 percent of the time when he was coming up through the minors.
Adrian Beltre is under contract for one more season, at which time the hope is that Gallo can step in as the team's everyday third baseman.
Now that he's on the 40-man roster, there's no reason not to give him another look come September.
5. SP Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays
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2015 MiLB Stats (High-A, Double-A and Triple-A)
23 G, 21 GS, 13-4, 1.31 ERA, 0.984 WHIP, 48 BB, 151 K, 124.0 IP
Prospect Overview
A supplemental-round pick in 2011, going No. 52 overall, left-hander Blake Snell has a chance to be the next in a line of impressive, homegrown arms to come out of the Tampa Bay Rays farm system.
The 22-year-old went 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.309 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 115.1 innings last season between Single-A and High-A. That was enough for him to open the season as the No. 9 prospect in the Rays system, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
Back at High-A Charlotte to open this season, it didn't take Snell long to earn a promotion. He began the year with an impressive 49-inning scoreless streak, and he's continued to thrive on his way to reaching Triple-A.
Snell has improved his command each of the past three years, dropping his walk rate from 6.6 to 4.4 to 3.5 BB/9. He has a strong three-pitch repertoire with a mid-90s fastball backed by a plus slider/changeup combination, and he looks to have as high a floor as any pitching prospect in the league.
Jeremy Hellickson (2010) and Matt Moore (2011) both received late-season promotions before stepping into the Rays rotation the following season. Snell could take a similar path.
4. RF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
111 G, .265/.338/.473, 114 H, 24 2B, 20 HR, 70 RBI, 60 R, 7 SB
Prospect Overview
What's not to love about a 6'7", 275-pound slugger with tremendous raw power potential?
At 23 years old, Aaron Judge is still a work in progress, but he's capable of making a legitimate impact for a contending New York Yankees team down the stretch.
MLB.com's Prospect Watch had the following to say about his offensive approach.
"He has huge raw power, though he's content for now to use a shorter stroke and the entire field, working counts and producing line drives. A more advanced hitter than expected, he currently projects to bat .275 with 20-25 homers per season but could produce more power if he becomes more aggressive and turns on more pitches.
"
He's hitting just .238/.322/.414 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 47 games since being promoted to Triple-A, but he's stepped up his production of late.
Over his last 16 games, Judge has posted a .858 OPS with five home runs and 13 RBI, and that may be reason enough for the Yankees to play the hot hand and add him to their bench for the final month of the season.
3. CF Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
23 of 25
2015 MiLB Stats (High-A and Double-A)
115 G, .292/.390/.485, 124 H, 26 2B, 16 HR, 63 RBI, 83 R, 41 SB
Prospect Overview
Bradley Zimmer was viewed by many as the best college bat in the 2014 class—a class that also included the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Michael Conforto and Trea Turner.
He already possesses a good mix of contact skills, on-base ability and speed, and his power should continue to develop as his 6'4" frame fills out. He also has the glove to stick in center field, which only adds to his value.
With the Cleveland Indians managing to unload Michael Bourn in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, Zimmer now has a clear path to an everyday job in 2016.
Abraham Almonte has seen the bulk of the playing time since the trade, hitting .242/.292/.500 over 62 at-bats and posting a 0.6 WAR. The 26-year-old profiles as more of a fourth outfielder long-term, though.
Despite playing just 36 games and not being on the 40-man roster, the 22-year-old Zimmer has an advanced approach, and it would make sense for the Indians to give him a closer look down the stretch.
2. SP Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
24 GS, 11-5, 3.09 ERA, 1.092 WHIP, 36 BB, 153 K, 148.1 IP
Prospect Overview
The highest-drafted pitcher ever out of Puerto Rico, right-hander Jose Berrios was taken with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2012 draft.
The 21-year-old has put up terrific numbers every step of the way while climbing through the Minnesota Twins farm system, going 33-20 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.141 WHIP and 442 strikeouts in 422.1 career innings.
His three-pitch repertoire gives him legitimate front-line potential, as MLB.com's Prospect Watch explained:
"He has a live, quick arm that fires fastballs that touch 95-96 mph regularly and easily sits in the low-90s. His changeup is his best secondary offering, a sinking offspeed pitch which is very effective against left-handed hitters. His breaking ball is a hard slurve, thrown with good deception, and he'll vary the velocity and size of it to throw hitters off.
"
As the Twins look to hold strong in their hunt for a surprise postseason berth, Berrios could be a serious weapon down the stretch, whether it's out of the bullpen or stepping into the rotation.
1. SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2015 MiLB Stats (Double-A and Triple-A)
116 G, .294/.343/.485, 136 H, 33 2B, 17 HR, 69 RBI, 72 R, 4 SB
Prospect Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers opted to wait until September to promote Joc Pederson last year, despite big numbers at the Triple-A level, and it looks like they'll take a similar approach with shortstop Corey Seager.
The No. 18 pick in the 2012 draft, Seager exploded last season to hit .349/.402/.602 with 50 doubles and 20 home runs between High-A and Double-A.
The 21-year-old began this season in Double-A but was quickly promoted to Triple-A, where he's continued to hold his own.
Incumbent Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins has hit just .225/.278/.372 on his way to a minus-0.2 WAR in what will almost certainly be his one and only season with the Dodgers, but the team has stuck by him to this point.
Don't expect Seager to come in and take the job away from the veteran in September, but he'll give the team another bat off the bench and an opportunity to give Rollins days off heading into the playoffs.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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