September call-ups aren't what they used to be.
Rosters used to expand to as many as 40 players. Now, it's only 28. With just two additional spots, you would expect most teams to call up a reliever and maybe a role player for the bench. (Two relievers likely isn't an option since only half the roster can be comprised of pitchers, expanded or not).
But whether it's to fill one of those additional spots or to replace some schlub already on the active roster, big-name prospects will get called up at some point in the final month. The draft pick incentives introduced to the latest CBA in 2022 have made the end of the season the most optimal time to introduce prospects to the majors, giving them a head start on winning a job the following spring while keeping their rookie status intact.
So if real-life teams are incentivized to go bigger with their September call-ups, even if they aren't as numerous, then I'm incentivized to do the same with my September call-up predictions. Or maybe instead of predictions, I'll call them ... speculations. Not all of these prospects will come up in September, as fun as it would be, but in each of the 16 instances, it's plausible. And I'd rather fixate on the ones who could make a legitimate difference for Fantasy than hype up a bunch of bit players who almost certainly won't.
(Don't worry. I haven't just listed off all the biggest prospects in baseball.)
You'll notice I've numbered the 16 prospects, creating a ranking of sorts, but that ranking is more a reflection of my interest level than their likelihood of a promotion.
All statistics are up to date through Wednesday, Aug. 28.
1. Jasson Dominguez, OF, Yankees
2023 stats: .265 BA (456 AB), 15 HR, 40 SB, .802 OPS, 83 BB, 133 K
2024 stats: .309 BA (188 AB), 8 HR, 14 SB, .855 OPS, 16 BB, 42 K
The Yankees have slow-played this one, not wanting to use up Dominguez's rookie eligibility after the short time he spent on the roster last year, but they could use an upgrade from Alex Verdugo in left field. And seeing as Dominguez has already tasted some success in the majors and is the complete package offensively, offering power and especially speed, he's the best bet of these 16 to matter in Fantasy.
2. Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox
2023 stats: .272 BA (397 AB), 14 HR, 16 SB, .869 OPS, 86 BB, 119 K
2024 stats: .283 BA (381 AB), 18 HR, 16 SB, .885 OPS, 55 BB, 105 K
An Anthony promotion would have seemed unrealistic a few short weeks ago -- and perhaps still is -- but the 20-year-old has straight-up obliterated minor-league pitching since winning the Futures Skills Showcase at the All-Star break. He hasn't slowed down since his move up to Triple-A, slashing .362/.431/.621 in 14 games to put him in the best-prospect-in-baseball discussion.
3. Coby Mayo, 3B, Orioles
2023 stats: .290 BA (504 AB), 29 HR, 45 2B, .973 OPS, 93 BB, 148 K
2024 stats: .302 BA (344 AB), 25 HR, 25 2B, .988 OPS, 39 BB, 99 K
The bloom is off the rose a bit after Mayo's 1-for-17 showing in the majors a few weeks back, but the 22-year-old still offers massive power potential and a chance to fill in the biggest hole in the Orioles lineup. It's almost certain we'll see him again, and you can reasonably hope he learned something from his initial failure, as fellow Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday did.
4. Quinn Mathews, SP, Cardinals
2024 stats: 2.27 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 126 2/3 IP, 35 BB, 180 K
A no-name coming into the year, Mathews has already dominated three levels and just earned a promotion to a fourth, Triple-A, which could seemingly wait until next year unless the Cardinals are eyeing him for a late-season debut. The left-hander has entered the best-pitching-prospect discussion with a look similar to Cole Hamels and a changeup perhaps as devastating.
5. Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs
2023 stats: .357 BA (157 AB), 8 HR, 15 SB, 1.018 OPS, 9 BB, 25 K
2024 stats: .275 BA (371 AB), 17 HR, 28 SB, .840 OPS, 55 BB, 78 K
The biggest issue for Shaw is that the Cubs just acquired Isaac Paredes to man the position that was seemingly reserved for him, but the 22-year-old has also played second base and shortstop this year. A utility role to get his feet wet might make sense, particularly with Shaw batting .340 (54 for 159) with 11 homers, 11 steals, and a 1.025 OPS in his past 45 games.
6. Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox
2023 stats: .309 BA (68 AB), 1 HR, 3 SB, .911 OPS, 10 BB, 18 K
2024 stats: .339 BA (389 AB), 19 HR, 22 SB, 1.025 OPS, 66 BB, 89 K
If Quinn Mathews is the biggest riser among pitching prospects this year, then Campbell might be the same for hitting prospects, having gone from High-A to Triple-A with improved production at every stop. He can play both middle infield spots, which is where the Red Sox are weakest offensively, and is quickly becoming a personal favorite of mine.
7. Bubba Chandler, SP, Pirates
2023 stats: 4.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 111 IP, 51 BB, 128 K
2024 stats: 3.14 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 103 1/3 IP, 32 BB, 122 K
Initially a two-way player, Chandler turned a corner in his development as a pitcher this year, specifically with regard to throwing strikes, and it's led to a 2.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9 in his past 14 starts, including four at Triple-A. Introducing another potential ace in Chandler after already doing the same with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones this year would make for some legitimate Pirates hype heading into 2025.
8. Deyvison De Los Santos, 1B, Marlins
2023 stats: .254 BA (452 AB), 20 HR, .728 OPS, 25 BB, 125 K
2024 stats: .308 BA (448 AB), 35 HR, .959 OPS, 30 BB, 120 K
The minor-league home run leader has a much clearer path with the Marlins than he did with the Diamondbacks, though his production has slipped a little with his move from Triple-A Reno to Triple-A Jacksonville. His eye-popping stat line also conceals some concerning plate discipline issues, but neither he nor the team will learn anything about his readiness unless he gets a chance, which seems pretty likely at this point.
9. Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers
2023 stats: .228 BA (290 AB), 15 HR, .856 OPS, 72 BB, 93 K
2024 stats: .281 BA (352 AB), 22 HR, .920 OPS, 52 BB, 85 K
The only reason the Dodgers would have for shifting Rushing to left field with his move up to Triple-A earlier this month is to give him a quicker path to the majors, and they just parted ways with what had been their main left-handed-hitting outfielder, Jason Heyward. Rushing is giving them every excuse to do the obvious, slashing .324/.443/.592 with nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (16) at the final minor-league stop.
10. Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians
2023 stats: .355 BA (214 AB), 5 HR, 22 2B, .945 OPS, 23 BB, 30 K
2024 stats: .261 BA (142 AB), 8 HR, 10 2B, .841 OPS, 19 BB, 22 K
After pushing for a major-league job in spring training, DeLauter then missed much of the first half with a pair of foot injuries, but the 22-year-old has come back looking like the Grade-A hitter we've known him to be, batting .313 (25 for 80) with seven homers and as many walks as strikeouts (nine) in 22 games. The Guardians have already added Lane Thomas and Jhonkensy Noel to their outfield in the second half, but their lack of a dedicated DH leaves room for another.
11. Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Brewers
2023 stats: 3.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 71 1/3 IP, 42 BB, 110 K
2024 stats: 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 90 1/3 IP, 53 BB, 117 K
The Brewers moved Misiorowski up to Triple-A at the start of August, and the 6-foot-7 righty has only worked out of the bullpen since, allowing one hit in 10 1/3 innings. There's a chance he could get stuck in the role, particularly since he's had trouble throwing strikes as a starter, but if it gets him to the majors sooner (which would seem to be the point), then he'll at least be in consideration for a rotation spot next spring.
12. Jordan Walker, OF, Cardinals
2023 majors: .276 BA (420 AB), 16 HR, .787 OPS, 37 BB, 104 K
2024 minors: .263 BA (342 AB), 9 HR, .753 OPS, 31 BB, 73 K
Though not a prospect anymore, Walker clearly isn't an established major-leaguer either and still has upside to spare at age 22. The Cardinals trumpeted his return in mid-August only to send him back down a week later, but a mechanical change has led to better results this month, offering hope that he's figured things out.
13. Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Rays
2023 stats: .339 BA (357 AB), 25 HR, 1.062 OPS, 64 BB, 87 K
2024 stats: .235 BA (115 AB), 6 HR, .764 OPS, 22 BB, 46 K
Though he was one of the most impressive hitters in all the minors last year, a fractured finger late in spring training clearly set Aranda down the wrong path because he seemed totally lost upon his return. A subsequent oblique strain afforded him more time to recover, and now he's come back batting .450 (9 for 20) with three homers and two strikeouts in five games. The Rays need to find out once and for all, if they have something in the 26-year-old, who technically isn't a prospect anymore.
14. Chase Meidroth, 2B, Red Sox
2023 stats: .271 BA (399 AB), 9 HR, 13 SB, .799 OPS, 80 BB, 98 K
2024 stats: .305 BA (374 AB), 7 HR, 12 SB, .881 OPS, 94 BB, 54 K
If the Red Sox decide to hold off on Kristian Campbell (much to my chagrin), they have another potential upgrade up the middle in Meidroth, whose selling point is clearly his plate discipline. The 23-year-old's walk rate is nearly twice as high as his strikeout rate, amounting to a .453 on-base percentage in a full season at Triple-A, though it's possible that his modest power leads to major-leaguers pitching him less carefully.
15. Nick Yorke, 2B, Pirates
2023 stats: .268 BA (444 AB), 13 HR, 18 SB, .785 OPS, 51 BB, 122 K
2024 stats: .298 BA (410 AB), 10 HR, 17 SB, .813 OPS, 49 BB, 84 K
A deadline casualty of the Red Sox's infield surplus, Yorke has been at his best at Triple-A, batting .332 (78 for 235) with six homers, nine steals, and a .902 OPS -- and those numbers have only gotten better since he joined the Pirates. A former first-round pick, he presents a ready-made alternative to Nick Gonzales, whose hot start is now a distant memory.
16. Colby Thomas, OF, Athletics
2023 stats: .286 BA (507 AB), 18 HR, 25 SB, .844 OPS, 37 BB, 146 K
2024 stats: .275 BA (433 AB), 25 HR, 14 SB, .893 OPS, 33 BB, 111 K
The Athletics of course have holes aplenty, and Thomas would seemingly have nothing more to gain at Triple-A. I say "seemingly" because there are pronounced plate discipline issues, including a poor zone-contact rate that may ultimately be his undoing. Still, he's capable of putting a charge in the ball and may overcome these issues by way of pure athleticism.