Regan's Rumblings: Previewing September Callups

Most of the elite prospects in the game tend to get called up well before rosters expand on September 1, but that doesn't mean there aren't guys left who could make a fantasy impact. Let's look at a few…

NL West

Thanks to GM Dave Stewart, there's really no one left in the Arizona system that is expected to make much of an impact next month. Peter O'Brien should return to the big league roster, but it's tough to see him getting much time now that Mitch Haniger is in the big leagues and A.J. Pollock is on the verge of returning. PCL HR (28-tie) and RBI (111) leader 1B Kyle Jensen should get a look, but he's unlikely to have real value given the Diamondbacks seem to have a pretty good first baseman already.

OF Ramel Tapia has just 12 games under his belt for the Rockies in Triple-A, but after hitting .323/.363/.450 in Double-A, Tapia is hitting .340/.364/.491 for Triple-A Albuquerque. He doesn't project to make a big impact this year however unless one of the current starters gets hurt. Charlie Blackmon is dealing with a toe injury, but he's day-to-day for now. Tapia though is one of the team's top three prospects and he has 20 stolen bases, so watch for him.

Despite the graduations of guys such as Julio Urias, the Dodgers still have an abundance of minor league talent. Jose De Leon should get a look any day given the team's starting pitching woes, and De Leon has big time fantasy appeal with his 11.1 K/9. He's also ripped off four consecutive quality starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Whether the Dodgers bring back mercurial OF Yasiel Puig (1.158 OPS in 19 games) is really anybody's guess at this point. SP Trevor Oaks could get a look, but most of the rest of the high-end talent (Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, etc) is a year or two away.

The Padres will likely recall outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe next month. In fact, why they haven't been recalled already is a mystery. Renfroe is batting .312 with 28 home runs in Triple-A, though his 4% BB% is a concern. Margot is batting .303/.352/.433 with six homers and 27 steals. He's also walking a bit more (6.5% BB%) and is making very good contact with an elite 10% K%. The Padres outfield (well, the entire lineup really) is atrocious, and these guys will help.

The Giants will bring guys like Kelby Tomlinson and Jarrett Parker back from Triple-A, but the true impact talent is a year or two away. Perhaps SP Tyler Beede (2.91 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 in Double-A) will get a look out of the bullpen or as a spot-starter should the Giants suffer an injury or two.

NL Central

The Cubs' top young talent is already on the roster, and there doesn't appear to be anyone in the upper minors capable of making a September impact. Albert Almora will return to provide outfield depth, but guys like 2B Ian Happ and OF Eloy Jimenez aren't going to see MLB pitching until 2017 or 2018.

Unless SS Zack Cozart needs a DL stint for his knee, it doesn't appear Jose Peraza will be an everyday player next month. He'll certainly be on the roster come September, but probably will see time at multiple positions, which gives him some element of NL-only value given his speed. Watch for SP's Robert Stephenson and Amir Garrett to get the call. Garrett has had some control issues (4.5 BB/9) since being promoted to Triple-A, so he may be more of a 2017 guy.

SP Josh Hader and OF Lewis Brinson are each not on the 40-man roster, but both are by far the most intriguing September call-up options. Hader was rumored for a promotion recently, so he's definitely on the radar. All Hader did in his last Triple-A start was toss six two-hit innings with 12 strikeouts. Brinson meanwhile is dealing with a minor hamstring injury but is batting .391 in 48 PA's since coming over as the prize in the Jonathan Lucroy deal. Given his 36.4% K%, Keon Broxton should come down to Earth soon and open up some playing time in the outfield.

The Pirates have already pushed Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, and Josh Bell to the big leagues this year. Bell is back again now and one would think he would receive regular playing time. Next in line in terms of impact prospects is OF Austin Meadows, but Meadows is blocked and also is batting just .241/.323/.483 in 87 at-bats since being promoted to Triple-A. The .242 ISO and 10.1% BB% are both nice, and the average should climb. Still, he may be more of a 2017 guy. INF Alen Hanson should also get another look. He's had an inconsistent season, but he also has 36 steals in Triple-A.

Pitchers Alex Reyes and Luke Weaver are already up for the Cardinals, so that's probably about it for potential 2016 impact prospects. OF Harrison Bader has had a nice season, but in 44 games for Triple-A Memphis, Bader is batting a modest .235/.303/.348, so he's looking like more of a 2017 guy.

NL East

For the Braves, Aaron Blair has a 7.99 ERA in 11 big league starts and his recent Triple-A outings have been subpar. He may not return this year. Matt Wisler's Triple-A starts have been better, so he's a decent bet to get another shot next month. Ozzie Albies isn't on the 40-man roster, but he's a decent bet to bring his 26 stolen bases to Atlanta next month as the Braves show off their middle infield of the future. Pitching prospect Sean Newcomb has a 1.52 ERA in his last four Double-A starts, but he's probably more of a 2017 option.

The Marlins are thin at the upper levels, so there's really no one exciting knocking on the door. They will likely bring back Austin Price to make a few starts. Brice has fanned seven in just 4.2 innings in Triple-A, but he's also working out of the bullpen, so perhaps that's going to be his role going forward. Brice throws in the mid-90s, so perhaps closing is in his future.

The Mets' top prospect is shortstop Amed Rosario, still just 20. Rosario is tearing up Double-A pitching to the tune of .327/.377/.485 and he's swiped 15 bases in 108 games this year. He's still blocked at the big league level by multiple guys. OF Michael Conforto will return and so too should C Kevin Plawecki and OF Brandon Nimmo. Conforto is batting a healthy .550/.581/.950 in 43 PA's since his latest demotion, but he's no more than a fourth OF in New York barring injury.

The Phillies have a number of intriguing options knocking on the door, chief among them being SS J.P. Crawford. Crawford has a disappointing .257/.362/.345 slash with 12 steals, but he could still get a look. Catcher of the future Jorge Alfaro is slumping, but still batting .279 with 13 homers, so I can see the Phillies giving him a look despite getting solid production from Cameron Rupp. OF Nick Williams has a brutal 120:19 K:BB in Triple-A, so he clearly needs more development time.

SP Lucas Giolito appears likely to make starts in place of the injured Stephen Strasburg (elbow), so he's worth a look if he had been previously dropped. Outfielders Brian Goodwin and Michael Taylor should return to provide depth. Their top remaining prospect is 19-year-old outfielder Victor Robles, but he's at least a couple years away from making an impact.

AL West

Four of RotoWire's top-10 Astros prospects are already making impacts at the big league level, so is there anything left to watch for next month? SP Francis Martes is their top prospect still in the minors and while he's just 20, Martes has a 33:4 K:BB in 26.1 innings over four starts this month. Perhaps if Jose Musgrove's struggles continue, Martes will get a look. Given his overall numbers (.364 OBP, 19 HR, 24 SB), Triple-A OF Derek Fisher could get a look, but Fisher is hitting just .236/.300/.436 in 15 games since his promotion to Triple-A.
The Angels' farm system remains abysmal, so there's not much to write about here. Perhaps Tim Lincecum will be brought back. Infielder Kaleb Cowart is already back to try (for the last time?) to prove he's not a bust. Pitching prospect Alex Meyer could get a look if his shoulder proves healthy, but this is an organization in desperate need of a fire sale.

The A's once against have rebuilt their farm system and have a number of prospects on the verge of contributing. SS Franklin Barreto is just 20, but he's hitting .415 in his last 10 games for Double-A Midland. Still, he doesn't appear likely to get the call this year. Pitcher Frankie Montas doesn't appear likely to spend time in Oakland until 2017 given his rib issues, but fellow ex-Dodger farm hand P Jharel Cotton should get a look as could 3B Matt Chapman (30 home runs this year).

He's been better recently, but Seattle 1B prospect Dan Vogelbach is batting just .223 in 112 Triple-A at-bats since the trade from the Cubs. Overall, Vogelbach this year is batting a healthy .293/.416/.504 with 20 home runs, but the he still might not see MLB time until 2017. 3B D.J. Peterson has regained some of his prospect value with a .782 OPS this year, but he's listed on the minor league disabled list. OF Tyler O'Neill has a .913 OPS in Double-A, but 2017 appears to be his ETA. OF Stefen Romero should return given his .930 Triple-A OPS, but Romero is 27 and has yet to make a big league impact.
OF/3B Joey Gallo will return in September to try and better his 47.5% MLB K%. With Carlos Gomez now in left, there doesn't appear to be much available playing time for Gallo with the Rangers. SP Yohander Mendez has struggled with his control at times, but he's on the 40-man roster and he has held minor league hitters to a .194 BAA with a 9.6 K/9. He could get a September look for a team in need of quality arms.

AL Central

SP Alec Hansen was the #49 overall pick in 2016 by the White Sox, but despite a 1.03 ERA and crazy-good 14.7 K/9 in 10 Rookie Level starts, the recently-promoted (Low-A) Hansen isn't likely to get the call this year. He's more of a name to keep in mind in dynasty leagues. For this year, Carson Fulmer could return and make a couple starts after bombing as a big league reliever. 3B Matt Davidson (foot) could return if healthy as could OF Jason Coats, but there's nothing to get excited about here.

OF Bradley Zimmer has struck out 150 times in 118 games, but he also has a .378 OBP, 15 HR, and 38 SB. With only guys like Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Abraham Almonte gobbling up at-bats alongside impressive rookie Tyler Naquin, Zimmer could certainly get a look in Cleveland. 1B Jesus Aguilar is hitting just .233 in Triple-A, so he's unlikely a long look despite his 25 home runs. OF Greg Allen has flown a bit under the radar, but he's swiped 42 bases this year with a .420 OBP. Allen has just 24 games above A-ball this year, so a September debut appears unlikely.

SS Dixon Machado and OF Steven Moya will be back for the Tigers to provide depth next month and like most teams, they'll add some bullpen depth, but no prospect of note in this thin system is expected to make a September impact. OF Cristin Stewart (26 home runs) is interesting, but he has just 14 games above A-ball and is more of a 2017 guy.
For the Royals, OF Jorge Bonifacio is batting .266/.340/.451 with 16 homers for Triple-A Omaha and could be up to provide outfield depth. 3B/OF Hunter Dozier is 25 and should get his first taste of the big leagues. He's batting .299/.361/.514 in Triple-A after destroying Double-A pitching to the tune of a 1.042 OPS. Dozier was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft and he's hit 23 homers and 39 doubles this year.

The Twins have graduated most of their good young talent already, but at least they should bring Kennys Vargas back. Vargas probably should still be with the team anyway given he's batting .259/.379/.576 in 85 at-bats at the big league level. OF Adam Walker could get his first taste of big league pitching given his 25 home runs this year and 31 a year ago, but Walker is also striking out in a whopping 38.5% of his plate appearances.

AL East

Baltimore 1B Trey Mancini is their top prospect, but the system is paper-thin at the moment. Still, given he's hit 20 homers and is 24 years old, he's a definite candidate. All in all though, I don't expect any significant contributions from someone not already on the roster.
Boston's Yoan Moncada is the big potential callup we're all waiting for, but it's far from certain that the Red Sox will bring him up this year. Having him play some third base lately seems to point to a callup, so given his massive fantasy appeal (14 HR, 44 SB), he should already be owned in most formats. P Henry Owens could get another look despite his recent poor spot start. 28-year-old 1B/OF Chris Marrero has 23 home runs in Triple-A and could get a look, though he's not on the 40-man roster.

NY's Luis Severino has been a huge fantasy disappointment this year, but he could still get another look with the Yankees looking towards 2017. OF Clint Frazier is unlikely to join Aaron Judge in the New York outfield, as Frazier is batting just .235/.286/.376 since being traded. OF Ben Gamel should be back however, as Gamel is batting .312/.370/.421 with 19 steals in Triple-A.

The Rays top prospects are SS Willy Adames and SP Brett Honeywell, but both aren't expected to be up until 2017. The Rays could however give RHP Jacob Faria a look given Faria has been pitching well (2.63 August ERA) for Triple-A Durham. 1B Casey Gillaspie has a .386 OBP and 15 HR between Double-A and Triple-A and with just Brad Miller atop the Rays' first base depth chart, Gillaspie could get a look. Pitcher Jamie Schultz is another possibility, though his 4.7 BB/9 at least partially offsets his impressive 11.2 K/9 and 3.10 ERA for Durham.

OF Dalton Pompey has an uninspiring .700 OPS in Triple-A, but he could get the call to provide speed off the bench. Top prospect 1B Rowdy Tellez won't be up until at least 2017, but 1B Jesus Montero could get yet another look given he's batting .319 for Triple-A Buffalo. There's just not much talent at the upper levels of this system.