We’re coming down toward the end of the 2022 MLB season. The playoff races are getting tighter by the day. More and more injuries are playing a role in those races too. Without trades being able to be made, how will an MLB team improve their spot in the standings for the Wild Card or Division leads? Prospects. While the September roster limit isn’t at 40 like it used to be, there are still a few call-ups we could/should see down the stretch from teams competing for a spot in the postseason. That’s what we’re talking about this week. Let’s take a look at some of the players we might see get a taste of the majors in the next six weeks or so of the MLB season.

 

 

Francisco Álvarez, C NYM

The hype train is in full effect here. He’s, by some accounts, a top-five prospect in baseball, 14th in my latest Top-300 update, but regardless of rank, he’s the top catching prospect in the game. The hit and power tools are both plus attributes. In fact, in the last 188 games in the minors, Alvarez has launched 47 homers while hitting .265. The Mets have gotten very little, if any, offense from their catchers this year across the board. Down the stretch, it’ll be important for the Mets to get not only the offensive boost Alvarez could provide but also start getting him used to calling games for two of the best pitchers in the game, i.e. Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.

Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B BAL

Everyone remember back to when the O’s were making an unexpected playoff push and called up a stud prospect who could play either shortstop or third base? That guy was named Manny Machado. The same scenario is playing out yet again in Baltimore. Henderson has risen quickly through the system since being a second-round pick in 2019 and is now, like Alvarez, the top prospect in baseball by some outlets, second in my latest Top-300. Henderson has split not only games between Double-A and Triple-A evenly this year, 47 at each to this point, he’s also split games at short and third evenly as well. All the while, he’s slashed .303/.430/.553 with 17 homers, 83 runs, 63 RBI, and 16 steals in those 94 games. There’s basically nothing left to prove for him in the minors and he could bolster the offense for the Orioles after the departure of Trey Mancini.

Joshua Jung, 3B TEX

Jung was expected to break camp with the Rangers way back in March and be the starting third baseman for them this year. A wrist injury derailed that plan…until now. He’s back playing in Triple-A and has already shown his double-plus power as well. The Rangers offense has been woeful all year, despite the massive signings in the offseason. They are 10 games out of the third Wild Card right now, and unlikely to make it up, however, having Jung come up and get a taste of the majors will only get him a jumpstart for next year. If he’s still available, a pick up could be warranted as a late power boost to your lineup.

Oswald Peraza, SS NYY

Yeah, yeah, yeah…there’s another shortstop that is getting all the attention in New York. No I don’t mean the docuseries “The Captain” either. Anthony Volpe gets all the hype, and it’s deserved, however, Peraza is ahead of him in the system and putting up remarkable numbers as well. In 82 games, all at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, Peraza is slashing .258/.328/.447 with 15 homers, 44 runs, 42 RBI, and 26 steals. That being said, the only real concern with him right now is the K-rate is still a tad high with nearly a strikeout per game for the last two seasons. The Yankees will likely need as much offense as possible down the stretch as they dodge injuries and innings limits with pitchers and Peraza could supplant Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop down the stretch.

Hunter Brown, RHP HOU

The Astros are trying to lock up the AL West again, and they’re well on their way with an identical record to the Yankees at this point. However, what they’re lacking is pitching depth in the rotation. That’s where Hunter Brown comes in. He’s emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and is their top prospect in general at this point. Through 85.2 innings at Triple-A Sugarland this year he’s posted a 2.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and an impressive 115:38 K:BB ratio. Not all of his appearances have been starts, 12 of 19 have been, which indicates Houston is also prepping him to be a potential swingman down the stretch for them. The righty has three plus pitches, including two (Fastball and Curveball) that are double-plus offerings and he profiles as a number two starter as a floor with the ceiling of an ace. Sounds like just the arm the Astros could use to help out down the stretch.

Logan T. Allen, LHP CLE

The middle initial is important here. He’s not to be confused with the previous Logan Allen who was acquired in a trade with San Diego a few years back. This Logan T. Allen profiles as a mid-rotation starter with pinpoint control. In fact, he’s got the best control of any pitcher in the Guardians’ system right now. In 2022, the southpaw has split time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus for 92.2 innings and a 131:37 K:BB ratio. Triple-A hasn’t been as smooth as Double-A was, though it’s just a 19 inning sample size at this point. Using a clean, repeatable delivery and three above-average pitches — Fastball, Slider, and Changeup — the southpaw could be the next in a string of call-ups for Cleveland as they battle not only for a Wild Card berth but also the AL Central division title in a three-way race.

Colby White, RHP TB

We’re digging a bit deep here. Sure, we could go with Jonathan Aranda, the infielder who’s already gotten a taste of the majors, or Curtis Mead, their number one prospect, in my latest Top-300, but let’s go with Colby White. He’s a righty who’s been smoking opposing hitters on the mound at Triple-A Durham this year. White has been mainly used as a bullpen arm with 43 appearances, 62.1 innings, and just one start. However, he’s excelled in that role with a 1.44 ERA, impressive 0.66 WHIP, and a 104:15 K:BB ratio. That’s nearly 7:1. He’s also posted 11 saves in that span as well. The fastball-slider combo that he uses, along with a sprinkling of a changeup, are plenty to get him through late-inning situations. The fastball is a mid-to-upper-90s offering with late life that misses bats regularly and the slider, has made big strides since 2021 to turn into an out pitch as well against both handedness of hitter. The Rays’ bullpen could use help down the stretch with closing out games to keep their grasp on the AL Wild Card spot and White seems like a clear fit to get holds and a lot of Ks for fantasy managers.

 

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