Stock Up, Stock Down on MLB's Top 10 Prospects on Eve of September Call-Ups

Much like kids rushing downstairs Christmas morning, some of the top prospects in baseball will head to their respective ballparks on Sept. 1 wondering what lies in store for them when they arrive.

Will they be in the day's lineup, or will their manager call them into his office to give them the news they're heading to the major leagues, making their lifelong dreams a reality?

As was the case last week, we'll use MLB.com's list of baseball's top prospects as the source for our list, ignoring players like the Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton and Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber, who are already in the big leagues, but still retain prospect eligibility.

Have any of these players done enough to boost their stock over the past week to change their parent club's thinking? Or will they look to finish strong in the minors, with an eye toward cracking a 25-man roster in spring training?

Let's take a look.

Note: Players listed in alphabetical order.

Stock Up: Orlando Arcia, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

2015 Stats (Double-A): 122 G, .307/.347/.459, 51 XBH (8 HR), 64 RBI, 29 BB, 67 K, 23-of-31 SB

Another week, another strong showing from 21-year-old Orlando Arcia, who is making a strong case to be called baseball's top infield prospect.

Arcia hit .379 (11-for-29) with two doubles, two triples, two RBI, three walks, four strikeouts and eight runs scored in seven games last week, raising his numbers across the board as a result. He's now riding a 14-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .393 (22-for-58) with four doubles, two triples, three home runs and seven RBI.

Not bad for one of the youngest players in all of Double-A. While he won't get a taste of Milwaukee this season, he could easily break camp with the club as its starting shortstop next year, regardless of whether Jean Segura is still on the roster.

Stock Up: J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Associated Press

2015 Stats (High-A/Double-A): 100 G, .292/.385/.419, 32 XBH (6 HR), 39 RBI, 61 BB, 49 K, 12-of-16 SB

Philadelphia fans hoping to get their first look at J.P. Crawford in a Phillies uniform when rosters expand are bound to be disappointed because it doesn't appear as if the 20-year-old will be making his big league debut anytime soon.

“We won’t bring up a ton of guys,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told CSN Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury this past Friday. “There’s not enough playing time. We’ve got to see what the guys here can do.”

It would make little sense for Crawford to ride the pine with the big club when his current team, the Reading Fightin Phils, sits atop the Eastern League's Eastern Division and is all but assured of a playoff berth, extending Crawford's season well into September.

Crawford reached base safely in 10 consecutive games, and he hit .391 (9-for-23) with two doubles, a triple, three RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base last week, walking nearly twice as many times (seven) as he struck out (four).

While he likely won't see the big leagues in 2015, he's a lock to make his debut at some point next season, perhaps out of spring training, depending on how he performs and what moves the Phillies make over the winter.

Stock Down: Joey Gallo, 3B/OF, Texas Rangers

2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): 87 G, .240/.342/.520, 43 XBH (23 HR), 63 RBI, 51 BB, 139 K, 2-of-2 SB 

Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News believes shutting down Joey Gallo—and not bringing him back to the majors when rosters expand—would be an "excellent idea" for the Texas Rangers. Given the way the 21-year-old has performed of late, it's not a horrible idea.

He hit only .200 (5-for-25) last week with a double, home run, four RBI and 11 strikeouts. While whiffs will forever be an issue for Gallo, that makes it 90 strikeouts in 200 at-bats as a member of the Triple-A Round Rock Express. That's ridiculous, even for an all-or-nothing batter.

Would his otherworldly power be an asset for the Rangers down the stretch? You bet. But some time away from the game, which would allow him to clear his head and stop pressing at the plate, might be the best thing for the long-term futures of both player and team.

Stock Even: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals

John Minchillo/Associated Press

2015 Stats (High-A/Double-A): 20 G (18 GS), 6-7, 3.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 111 IP, 106 H, 36 BB, 127 K

Lucas Giolito is now pitching in uncharted territory, having eclipsed the 100-inning plateau for the first time in his short professional career. He did so after pitching into the sixth inning in each of his two starts last week, which could explain why Washington's top prospect wasn't quite as sharp as he's previously been.

Giolito wasn't bad, mind you, as he allowed a total of four earned runs over 12.2 innings of work, walking two and striking out 13. But the 15 hits the opposition picked up over those two starts—including 10 over six innings in his last outing against the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit)—leave something to be desired.

That said, Giolito remains one of, if not, the best pitching prospect in all of baseball, one who figures to get his first taste of regular-season action at some point next season.

Stock Up: Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2015 Stats (Low-A/Double-A/Triple-A): 20 GS, 6-4, 1.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 101.2 IP, 70 H, 38 BB, 127 K

With each successive step a prospect takes through a team's minor league system, the level of competition is supposed to increase, presenting new challenges and obstacles for them to get past.

Except someone forgot to tell that to 21-year-old Tyler Glasnow, who has dominated Triple-A hitters like he's playing whiffle ball in his backyard at a family barbecue. In six starts, spanning 33.1 innings, Glasnow has allowed three earned runs, which works out to a minuscule 0.81 ERA.

That includes his last outing, which saw him toss six innings of one-hit, shutout ball against the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati), walking two and striking out five. Impressive numbers aside, Glasnow's performance still hasn't convinced Pittsburgh that he's ready to contribute to its playoff push this season.

“(We) have left the door open, just because he's doing some really good things, but he continues to remind us there are still some really good things he needs to do," general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Stephen J. Nesbitt. "At this point, he's not on our radar to come up here in September or October, because we still feel there's some development left to go."

While Glasnow only issued two walks last week, he has given out 17 free passes to the opposition since his arrival in Triple-A, far too high of a number for anyone's liking. But last week's outing was a step in the right direction, and there's little doubt he'll be in the mix for a rotation spot in spring training.

Stock Even: Yoan Moncada, 2B, Boston Red Sox

2015 Stats (Single-A): 73 G, .291/.391/.465, 29 XBH (8 HR), 36 RBI, 37 BB, 72 K, 45-of-48 SB 

We've focused on Yoan Moncada's offense for much of the season for good reason—his numbers at the plate are impressive. But the 20-year-old Cuban import is flashing some solid leather at second base for Single-A Greenville as well.

Whether it's the leaping grab he makes in the video above or this Brandon Phillips-esque move to turn a double play, Moncada has done nothing to make anyone believe he couldn't stick at the keystone long-term.

But it's ultimately Moncada's bat that will dictate how quickly he moves through Boston's farm system, and if his performance this season is any indication of what's to come, it won't be long before he's running the bases at Fenway Park.

Consider what he did last week. In five games, Moncada hit .278 (5-for-18) with a triple, home run, three RBI, six walks, six strikeouts, five stolen bases and seven runs scored.

Sure, you'd love for the average to be a bit higher and the strikeouts a bit less, but his ability to impact the game in multiple ways makes him a dangerous player. Pitch around him and he's going to take off running and get into scoring position. Pitch to him and he could take you deep with one swing.

While he's not yet a finished product, Moncada is one of the most complete players you'll find at any level, from rookie ball to the big leagues. He can seemingly do it all—and make it look easy in the process.

Stock Up: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

2015 Stats (Rookie): 37 G, .273/.340/.420, 13 XBH (3 HR), 20 RBI, 15 BB, 37 K, 4-of-7 SB

With each passing day, Brendan Rodgers becomes more comfortable and more confident and provides more examples of why Colorado didn't hesitate to make him the third overall pick in this year's draft.

The 19-year-old's numbers increased across the board last week after he hit .391 (9-for-23) with five doubles, a home run, five RBI and three runs scored, adding a pair of walks and strikeouts to his stat line.

"The last couple of weeks, I kind of changed part of my approach and my body language at plate," Rodgers told MILB.com's Andrew Kahn. "I don't want to tense up. I don't have to muscle up balls to hit them out or in the gap. I have a lot of confidence right now. I'm seeing the ball really well. Pitchers are getting behind in counts, then throwing fastballs, and I'm capitalizing."

Those changes showed not only in his numbers on the season, but also in the way he's approaching the game, both at the plate and in the field.

"Early on, he was jumping out at everything and off balance," Grand Junction manager Anthony Sanders told Kahn. "Now he's letting the game come to him. Defensively, his confidence has gone up as well. He's got all the tools. I can't imagine what he's going to be like in four or five years."

Stock Even: Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

2015 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A): 121 G, .292/.340/.487, 55 XBH (18 HR), 71 RBI, 34 BB, 73 K, 4-of-5 SB

The calls for Corey Seager to join the Dodgers have only grown louder after Los Angeles was on the wrong end of not one, but two no-hitters over the past 10 days. But the Dodgers have given no indication one way or another as to their plans for Seager when rosters expand, allowing speculation to percolate.

Seager did his part to force the team's hand last week, hitting .267 (8-for-30) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and five RBI over seven games. He's reached base safely in eight consecutive games and in 13 of his last 15, a stretch that's seen him hit .284 (19-for-67) with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored.

Whether Seager ultimately joins the Dodgers for their playoff push or not, we won't be wondering when he'll make his major league debut at this point next year—he'll be entering the final month of his rookie season.

Stock Down: Dansby Swanson, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

2015 Stats (Low-A): 16 G, .250/.343/.467, 9 XBH (1 HR), 10 RBI, 8 BB, 9 K 

Dansby Swanson, the first overall selection in this year's draft, certainly seems to have his head on straight and his ego in check, as evidenced in the interview above.

But the 21-year-old isn't finding the kind of success at the plate in his first taste of professional baseball that some would expect from such a high draft pick. In six games last week, Swanson hit only .210 (4-for-19) with a triple and an RBI, though he did score five runs and draw four walks, fanning only twice.

Still, it's far too early to start panicking over Swanson's production. If he's still struggling to put up quality numbers at this point next season, that's a different story.

Stock Even: Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Stats (Rookie/High-A/Double-A): 16 GS, 3-4, 2.96 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 76 IP, 62 H, 16 BB, 83 K

Six innings of four-hit, shutout ball with three strikeouts would be a solid day's work for any pitcher, but when it comes to Julio Urias, such an outing is a bit of a disappointment given the incredible hype surrounding him and the numbers he's put up on a regular basis this season.

While such an outing isn't enough to bump his stock up, it's certainly enough to get people talking about whether Los Angeles should call upon the 19-year-old to provide some much needed relief in its bullpen for the stretch run.

One man who knows that situation all too well believes the Dodgers should do just that.

"I hope they can call him up," Fernando Valenzuela, a Dodgers broadcaster who began his career working out of the team's bullpen in 1980, told the Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin. "That's the only way we can find out what he has. That way, he can see what's going on around him, get more familiar with the big league level. I think that's going to help him out."

Shaikin went on to note the Dodgers won't promote Urias "unless they determine he will be a difference-maker." Given his meteoric rise through the farm system, his numbers across three levels of the minors and the current state of the team's bullpen, it's hard to see how Urias wouldn't be just that.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of MILB.com and are current through games of August 30.

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