2011 MLB Roster Call-ups: The 25 Players Who Could Have the Biggest Impact

The time for waiver-wire transactions is nearly over, and that means that roster expansion will set in on September 1st, and baseball fans will have an opportunity to watch some of the players who will be the future of the game.

For contenders, adding an impact bat or good young arm could certainly help their playoff hopes, but the wave of September call-ups is just as important for teams out of the race as they assess their young talent in an effort to make roster decision for the following season.

So here is a look at the 25 call-ups who will have the biggest impact down the stretch, whether they are helping a contender lock down a playoff spot or auditioning for an everyday job during the 2012 season.

C Ryan Lavarnway, Boston Red Sox

Lavarnway has proven to be among the best power-hitting prospects in all of baseball, after hitting 73 home runs over the past three seasons including 30 so far this season.

He earned a call-up last week when Kevin Youkilis hit the disabled list, and in seven games as either the starting DH or catcher, he went 7-for-23 with three RBI.

He'll be back in the big leagues when September rolls around and for a team in need of a right-handed bat off the bench, he could prove valuable down the stretch.

C Jesus Montero, New York Yankees

Montero has been at the center of trade rumors all season, but the Yankees have held onto him despite those rumors and the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball should finally make his big league debut this September.

With Eric Chavez currently serving as the team's DH, Montero could at the very least split at bats in a platoon with him, and if he performs well, could find himself in the starting lineup on a regular basis down the stretch.

C Wilin Rosario, Colorado Rockies

It has become evident that Chris Iannetta is not the answer at catcher for the Rockies, as he has never been able to build off a strong 2008 season, and while he is signed through 2012, it is never too early to start looking for his replacement.

Top prospect Rosario, a Futures Game participant, and even though he is only 22 years old, he is currently in his sixth pro season, and with a .250 BA, 19 HR, 44 RBI line, he has certainly earned a call-up.

Look for him to get most of the starts down the stretch as he auditions for the starting job next season.

1B Chris Carter, Oakland Athletics

Carter has been among the Athletics top prospects and one of the best power prospects in all of baseball for a couple years now, but he has struggled when given the opportunity at the big league level going just .170 BA, three HR, seven RBI in 100 at-bats over 34 games.

He has 167 minor league home runs under his belt, and for an Athletics team that could use all the offensive help it can get, Carter should be given every chance to start.

First base is currently being held down by light-hitting Conor Jackson, and with the team out of the playoff race, they have nothing to lose.

1B Anthony Rizzo, San Diego Padres

As one of the key pieces in the deal that sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox, Rizzo should get a chance to show what he can do this September even though he is still just 21 years old.

He played in 35 games for the Padres earlier this summer, hitting .143 BA, one HR, six RBI before being sent back down, but he has been dominant at Triple-A with an amazing .345 BA, 26 HR, 101 RBI in just 336 at-bats.

Look for him to start making Padres fans forget about Gonzalez this September, but he'll have a long way to go.

1B David Cooper, Toronto Blue Jays

The 17th-overall pick in the 2008 draft, Cooper earned a call-up earlier this season but was sent back down after struggling to a .121 BA, one HR, five RBI line over 33 at-bats in 13 games.

However, he has been phenomenal at Triple-A all season with a .377 BA, nine HR, 95 RBI, and that will be enough for him to get a look this September and set himself up for a roster spot to open next season.

1B Bryan LaHair, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are on their way to a wide scale overhaul as they begin rebuilding with some of their big contracts coming off the books.

Many believed when the team signed Carlos Pena to a one-year deal that they were setting themselves up to be players for Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder this offseason.

While that may still be true, Triple-A slugger Bryan LaHair will get a long look this September and the first base job could in fact be his next season as he has hit .330 BA, 36 HR, 105 RBI this season at Triple-A, and while he is 28 years old, he would represent a low-cost power option.

SS Grant Green, Oakland Athletics

The Athletics have a promising-looking infield moving forward, with Jemile Weeks at second base and top prospect Chris Carter in line for a long look this September at first base.

Joining them could be 2009 first-round pick Grant Green.

While his offense has never been a question, with a .318 BA, 20 HR, 87 RBI line last year. Now in his first year at Double-A, Green has hit well once again but has continued to struggle defensively with 21 errors after 37 last season.

He'd need to be added to the 40-man roster, but that is an inevitable this coming offseason anyway, so he could be in line for a September audition.

3B Matt Dominguez, Florida Marlins

Since selecting him 12th overall out of high school in the 2007 MLB draft, the Marlins have had Matt Dominguez on the fast track to the big leagues, and this season, he has advanced from High Single-A all the way to Triple-A.

He is still not quite there, as he has a line of .246 BA, 12 HR, 57 RBI this season, but the team would like nothing more than for him to be their starting third baseman in 2012 as the team has a big hole there. He's currently injured, but he should be healthy in time for a September audition and playing well could mean breaking camp with the team next year.

3B Alex Liddi, Seattle Mariners

Signed as an amateur free agent at the age of 17 out of Italy, Liddi has emerged as a serious power threat over the past few seasons, hitting 71 home runs over the past three seasons as he has moved through the ranks.

Liddi has seen time at first, third and shortstop this season, and if he can put together a strong September, the Mariners will find a way to get his bat into the lineup one way or another as the 22-year-old certainly has potential.

3B Mat Gamel, Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have begun to distance themselves from the rest of the pack in the NL Central, and they could be a dangerous team come October thanks to their impressive mix of offense and starting pitching.

Come September, that offense could get even better as corner infielder Mat Gamel will no doubt be called up and put in position to be one of the team's top hitters off the bench.

With a line of .320 BA, 28 HR, 96 RBI at Triple-A this season, he has proven worthy of a chance, and at 25 years old, he has little more to gain in the minors.

LF Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies

Originally slated to take over in right field for Jayson Werth to open the 2011 season, injuries and ineffectiveness have put a damper on a year that many thought would end in the NL Rookie of the Year for Domonic Brown.

The team has since traded for Hunter Pence in right field, and Raul Ibanez is no longer slumping badly, so Brown is not in line to start but should still get some playing time down the stretch for the NL favorites.

He is still the heir to Raul Ibanez in left field as of now.

LF Jerry Sands, Los Angeles Dodgers

Injuries forced the 23-year-old Sands into action early this season, and he hit .200 BA, two HR, 17 RBI over 41 games before being sent back down to Triple-A.

However, he has been great since then with a .284 BA, 28 HR, 85 RBI line in 87 minor league games.

Sands should be in line for at least an opportunity at the everyday left field job next season, and the trio of Sands, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier could make for one of the best young outfields in the league moving forward.

CF Leonys Martin, Texas Rangers

The Rangers have gotten through the season with the duo of Endy Chavez and Craig Gentry holding down the fort in center field, and while they have done a fine job, Leonys Martin is knocking on the door for playing time.

Signed to a $15 million deal this offseason after defecting from Cuba, Martin has risen through the ranks in his first pro season, reaching Triple-A after starting the season in the Rookie League.

Since he is already on the 40-man roster, a call-up seems almost certain, and he could push his way into some significant playing time if he performs well.

RF Fernando Martinez, New York Mets

Originally signed in 2006 at the age of 17, Martinez is in his sixth pro season and his third season at the Triple-A level.

He has fallen down the prospect ranking over the past few years as his development has halted and he is hitting just .260 BA, eight HR, 30 RBI this season.

He has earned a cup-of-coffee the past two seasons and appeared in 11 games with the big league club earlier this season.

While he is still just 22, proving something this September may be necessary for him to remain a future starter candidate, and with that on the line, he could have a big September.

LHP Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays

Taken in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB draft out of high school, Moore has emerged as perhaps the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, and his numbers this year could very well force his way into a September call-up despite him not being on the 40-man roster.

Moore has an 11-3 record and sterling 1.93 ERA, to go along with 200 strikeouts in just 149 innings pitched.

He will be in line for a rotation spot next year, but the team may want to give him a late-season audition like they did with Jeremy Hellickson last season.

LHP Manny Banuelos, New York Yankees

The Yankees pitching staff has been a cause of concern all season, despite some better than expected performances from the likes of Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova. While they have pitched well, the team may still be looking to upgrade their pitching staff from within.

Banuelos has gotten his first taste of Triple-A this season, and while his control is still a work in progress, there is no denying his talent as the 5'11", 155-pound is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

The Yankees made him untouchable at the deadline for a reason, and while it will mean clearing a 40-man roster spot, he could certainly help out in the final month.

RHP Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves

The Braves top pitching prospect (which is saying something) and one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball, Teheran got a surprise two-start audition in May, but it will be no surprise the next time he is called up which will undoubtedly be this September.

For a team that is arguably the second- best in the National League despite playing for the wild card, adding an arm like Teheran for the stretch run could be huge, whether he joins an already dominant bullpen or logs a few starts.

RHP Jarrod Parker, Arizona Diamondbacks

Ranked among baseball's top 50 prospects by Baseball America  in each of the past four seasons, Parker has bounced back nicely this season after missing all of the 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

With an 11-8 record and 3.88 ERA in 25 Double-A starts, there is little doubt that the Diamondbacks will find somewhere to use him as they try to lock down the NL West crown.

There could be a number of young pitchers joining Arizona, but Parker has the best chance of making a serious difference.

RHP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees

While there may be more buzz surrounding Mexican left-hander Manny Banuelos, the Yankees have an equally impressive pitching prospect in towering right-hander Dellin Betances.

He has some control issues with a 5.0 BB/9 mark in the minors, but his 10.0 K/9 mark is hard to ignore, and he has a 3.54 ERA as well.

Look for the big 6'8" right-hander to play a role either at the back of the Yankees rotation or in the bullpen come September.

RHP Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds

A 17-game winner as a rookie back in 2008, Volquez has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons as he made just 21 starts and posted an 8-5 record with an ERA well over four.

This season he started off poorly with a 5.93 ERA in his first 16 starts before the Reds had finally had enough and demoted him to Triple-A.

He has posted a 2.46 ERA in 12 minor league starts, and it will be interesting to see how he fairs upon his September return.

RHP Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers

The Tigers top prospect and one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball, the 20-year-old Turner was given a spot start earlier this season and went 5.1 innings giving up two runs on three hits and striking out six.

That should be enough to earn him a look this fall, be it in the bullpen or rotation as they will find a spot for the hard-throwing youngster who has been dominant at times in just his second pro season.

RHP Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have been very careful with Shelby Miller, taking him along slowly since selecting him 19th overall out of high school in the 2009 draft.

He spent his first two pro seasons in Low Single-A and started this year at High Single-A.

However, he has gotten his first taste of Double-A this season and not missed a beat going 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA, and with the Brewers pulling away in the NL Central the Cardinals could give the flame-thrower a call-up to help their late-season push.

RHP Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins

The Twins selected Kyle Gibson with the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 draft, and in his first pro season in 2010, he went 11-6 with a 2.96 ERA over three minor league stops as he eventually reached Triple-A.

This season, he has not quite enjoyed the same success, as he has posted a 4.81 ERA over 18 Triple-A starts. However, he could be a part of the rotation next season with a strong September showing, and he will no doubt be given a chance.

RHP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

One of the biggest stories of last season, Stephen Strasburg took the baseball world by storm with his 14-strikeout debut performance and subsequent dominance.

However, as quickly as he appeared, he was gone as an arm injury sidelined him and eventually resulted in Tommy John surgery.

However, he has made an incredibly quick recovery, and as of now, he has five rehab starts under his belt this season with the most recent coming at Triple-A when he went five innings and give up just two hits while fanning seven.

He should be back to give Nats fans some hope come September.