Come September 1, rosters around major league baseball expand from 25 to 40 slots and this gets fans gitty every year to see the next crop of talent that could be the next big star on their squad.
Unlike years past, it's been a frenzy when it comes to elite prospects getting the call. So far this year we’ve seen Byron Buxton, almost a unanimous choice as baseball’s top overall prospect, Francisco Lindor, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Joey Gallo, Noah Syndergaard, and the list goes on and on in 2015.
But don’t let that fact get you caught sleeping on the crop of talent that could get the call this September, if not before. Here’s five names to keep an eye that could help the contenders of baseball, as we hit the official start of the second half of the season.
Corey Seager - LAD SS
Myself along with thousands, if not millions of baseball fans have been calling for this guy to be up with the Dodgers for a month or longer now. And I still maintain, it’s time.
Jimmy Rollins stinks and is done.
Seager has done nothing but tear up the minor league ranks the past two years and between AA/AAA this year, he owns a stat line of .308/.356/.520 with 13 HR, 48 RBI and a 24/46 BB/K ratio.
That is a great stat line.
What’s even better is Seager’s strikeouts are the lowest of his minor league career and his line drive rate this year is as good as it’s ever been. Admittedly, his walks are a little lower this year, especially at Triple-A, but I don’t look much into that because his strikeout rate differential between AA and AAA has barely budged.
I don’t know what more I need to say than this guy is going to be the next big thing in baseball, and the sooner we can get him up and let him showcase it, the better.
Josh Bell PIT 1B/OF
Here’s the thing about Josh Bell, he’s at AA Altoona right now, and of the guys I am writing about in this piece, he may be the least likely to get the call.
But I argue he will because of several things.
First of all, Pedro Alvarez just isn’t the major league player the Pirates hoped he’d be. He’s 28 years old. His career OBP is a touch above .300, his OBP for goodness sakes.
He’s never logged an .800 OPS, which in my opinion is unbelievable given he’s a pure power hitter and the slugging percentage alone should make up for that. He’s hit 30 home runs only twice in his career.
Alvarez was looking at being downgraded to a bench player next year with the emergence of Bell, but if we’re being honest, it could be sooner given he’s having an absolutely atrocious year. And that said, when he becomes a free agent after next season, the Pirates could say “sayonara” to their once top overall pick.
Enter: Josh Bell.
We all know the crowded outfield situation in Pittsburg, Starling Marte in left, MVP Andrew McCutchen in center, and coveted prospect Gregory Polanco in right.
Obviously, Josh Bell just doesn’t fit into that picture. So, this year he took on first base full time and his offensive output has not suffered in the least.
This 22-year old switch-hitting beast (6’2 235) is having a breakout year at AA with a career low in strikeouts, career high in walks, in fact, his ratio right now is 37/40 BB/K. That is so fantastic I can’t put word together to form complete thoughts to describe how great that is.
While his power numbers haven’t shown up yet, I don’t think at that size, there’s any question he’ll ultimately hit for power. It is encouraging he’s plugging the gaps though. He’s gone for 20-plus doubles every full year in the minor leagues, which suggests eventually, some of those will start leaving the yard.
His swing and miss strikeouts are on the decline and his on base percentage has been consistent all through the minor leagues (something I think is beyond encouraging).
With the continued struggles of Alvarez and Josh Harrison not quite having the year he had last year, it’s not inconceivable to imagine Pittsburgh calling up their top hitting prospect should their race with St. Louis tighten up or if they start to slip and the Wild Card race tightens up.
While it might be a long shot at this point, I don’t think the odds are quite as low as you might think.
Aaron Judge NYY OF
I’ve long liked Aaron Judge. Maybe the purest power hitter of the 2013 draft, Judge is another one of my college bats that was almost major league ready.
Out of Fresno State, Judge is pure power, but he doesn’t let his average suffer.
His strikeout rates have been about average through his first two minor league seasons, but his walk rates have been through the roof, as evidenced by an almost .400 OBP.
Reaching AAA in just year two since being drafted, Judge is going to a park where his power will play in a big way.
Additionally, the Yankees are just an old team, yet they sit in first place.
Judge sits in a similar spot that Dodgers super-prospect Corey Seager is in, their teams are in first place and there’s no reason to rush them.
But for Aaron Judge, a different factor plays in.
The New York Yankees have been bit hard by the injury bug in the OF. Jacoby Ellsbury is coming off a stint on the disabled and now Carlos Beltran and prospect Mason Williams find themselves there.
I also think the Yankees showed their hand little bit by calling up Williams about a month ago in that they are looking for production from somewhere other than Arod, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann.
The American League East is wide open at this point and while Aaron Judge may not be a separator, he may just be a spark in the lineup that could propel the Bronx Bombers back to AL East champions.
Other prospects to watch:
Ketel Marte SEA SS - .329/.373/.415 18/24 BB/K at AAA Tacoma. Really, really, really like this kid!
Michael Conforto NYM OF - A/AA .297/.369/.477 11 HR 50 RBI 36/50 BB/K Very solid OF and we all know how bad the Mets offense is.
Aaron Nola PHI RHP (right)- AA/AAA 2.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .241 BAA. I know Philly isn't in any race except for next year's #1 overall pick, but Aaron Nola will likely become a #1 pitcher for Philadelphia for years to come and makes his debut Tuesday July 21.
Frankie Montas CWS RHP - 2.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, .205 BAA 62/29 K/BB (little high on walks). Frank will come up this week for the Sox.
Joe Ross WAS RHP - AA/AAA 2.61 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .223 BAA, 69/19 K/BB. Ross impressed in a short 3 start stint for Washington earlier this summer. Joe Ross may be a trade chip but if he's not, he is going to a very good pitcher for many years.
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