Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report: Potential September Call-Ups
Published: Aug 19, 2016
We are getting late into the season at this point with the minor league season winding down as a whole. The International League and the Pacific Coast League—both Triple-A—play well into September, while the lower levels of the minor leagues finish in the early part of the month. So many players have reached new levels of competition this season whether via a promotion to the big leagues or continued rising through the minors.
It’s not too early to focus on potential September call-ups. Major league rosters expand to 40 players on September 1 and many teams—contenders and non-contenders alike—will be beefing up their rosters on that day or soon thereafter. The focus of today’s article will be lesser-known players that could give you an extra bump in AL-Only or NL-Only leagues. The names are not the sexiest, but digging deep is usually the key to pulling of a mono-league win.
Adam Walker, OF, Rochester (Twins)
The Twins have kept Walker in Triple-A all year and rightfully so. He owns a .241 average at Triple-A this year, which is just .10 points behind his minor league career number of .251. Naturally, he strikes out in bunches. His strikeout percentage this season is 39.4 percent. That number is downright awful and will never allow Walker to have long-term success at the major league level. On the flip side, Walker has serious power and that power could propel you in the home run category if you’re looking at a tight race. In five minor league seasons, Walker has 122 home runs, including 25 this year. If he does get the call, he’s unlikely to start more than once or twice per week, so I wouldn’t bid over a buck or two in FAAB leagues. Still, if you have a spot to stash him, his dangerous power could be the difference between being in the money or coming away with nothing.
Matt Skole, 3B, Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals)
Skole is cut from the same cloth as Walker, though he fits the profile of an Adam Dunn-type player because in addition to hitting home runs and striking out, he walks at a respectable clip. The only way that Skole would see any real playing time is if Anthony Rendon went down with an injury and even then, he’d be a bench bat. Another issue prohibiting Skole from being called up in September is the fact that he isn’t on the 40-man roster, though that can be taken care of with some roster shuffling. Still, for a $0 bid, he’s worth stashing away in NL-Only leagues if you’re desperate for homers.
Alen Hanson, 2B, Indianapolis Indians (Pirates)
If you need stolen bases, Hanson is a guy that should be added in NL-Only leagues immediately. He had a tiny cup of coffee with Pittsburgh earlier this season, but has spent the vast majority of the year at Triple-A. In 451 plate appearances, Hanson has swiped 34 bags and has even chipped in with seven home runs. It’s all but guaranteed that he’ll be added to the Pirates’ roster once Indianapolis’ season concludes. He should find himself in plenty of pinch-running situations, which will ultimately lead to stolen bases.
Micah Johnson, 2B, Oklahoma City (Dodgers)
Another name to add if you need steals in NL-Only leagues is Johnson. He fits the exact same mold as Hanson and will steal bases with ease if he gets on base. The only real issue surrounding Johnson is that Oklahoma City is poised to make a deep run in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. If OKC were to win it all, Johnson could possibly only contribute for a couple of weeks before the regular season ends. Still, if he’s sitting on your waiver wire, his makeup and contributions certainly address specific needs.
Renato Nunez, 3B, Nashville (A’s)
Sticking with the script of both Walker and Skole, Nunez is another player with a bulk of power and contact issues. It’s worth noting that Nunez is a career .269 hitter in the minors, but he’s batting just .241 this year. Still, his power is real and he’s a true run producer as evident by his 21 home runs and 71 RBI. The A’s are completely out of playoff contention and could give Nunez a look down the stretch. He’s worth a stash in AL-Only leagues.
Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Tacoma (Mariners)
This isn’t the first time that Vogelbach has been mentioned in this article and for good reason. He was traded from the Cubs to the Mariners around midseason, but has struggled since arriving in Tacoma to the tune of a .209 average with just two home runs. He had success at Triple-A with Chicago, so this is likely a case of not being comfortable in his new surrounding. It’s almost a certainty that Vogelbach will be called up when rosters expand in September because really, Seattle has nothing to lose. He’s a left-handed power bat that could provide a spark off the bench if he gets hot. Add him now.
I will be back on Sunday and look at several more potential September call-ups including names that you’ve heard plenty of times before. Remember, now is the time to make these additions before it is too late. Never hesitate to make a move with a championship on the line.