September call-ups are upon us. While the rosters expanding doesn't mean quite as much as it used to in terms of prospect promotions, there should still be some names moved up to either get an extended look for a rebuilding team or help boost the playoff chances of contending clubs. Here are a few who should be in talks to see the big leagues before the end of the campaign.
See where future major league baseball starts slot into RotoWire's MLB Top Prospects & Rankings for 2026!
UPGRADE
Lazaro Montes, OF, SEA – Montes is actually set to be called up Monday to make his MLB debut. The 21-year-old had been solid at Triple-A by slashing .274/.369/.571 with 13 homers and 30 RBI. His power will be a crucial addition to the Mariners, especially with the massive production decline from Cal Raleigh. Seattle's five games back of both the Wild Card and AL West-leading Houston, and this could be a last-gasp effort for the M's to make the playoffs. That being said, Montes is deserving of the promotion and at a minimum will get his feet wet for 2027.
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, CLE – Velasquez is a no-brainer promotion candidate as the 21-year-old is just toying with pitching at Triple-A. Over the last 21 days, he's hitting .393 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI. The Guardians currently hold down the final Wildcard spot in a hotly contested race and also still only 3.5 back of the surprising White Sox in
September call-ups are upon us. While the rosters expanding doesn't mean quite as much as it used to in terms of prospect promotions, there should still be some names moved up to either get an extended look for a rebuilding team or help boost the playoff chances of contending clubs. Here are a few who should be in talks to see the big leagues before the end of the campaign.
See where future major league baseball starts slot into RotoWire's MLB Top Prospects & Rankings for 2026!
UPGRADE
Lazaro Montes, OF, SEA – Montes is actually set to be called up Monday to make his MLB debut. The 21-year-old had been solid at Triple-A by slashing .274/.369/.571 with 13 homers and 30 RBI. His power will be a crucial addition to the Mariners, especially with the massive production decline from Cal Raleigh. Seattle's five games back of both the Wild Card and AL West-leading Houston, and this could be a last-gasp effort for the M's to make the playoffs. That being said, Montes is deserving of the promotion and at a minimum will get his feet wet for 2027.
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, CLE – Velasquez is a no-brainer promotion candidate as the 21-year-old is just toying with pitching at Triple-A. Over the last 21 days, he's hitting .393 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI. The Guardians currently hold down the final Wildcard spot in a hotly contested race and also still only 3.5 back of the surprising White Sox in the AL Central. Add in that Cleveland is last in the bigs for slugging and OPS and 29th in homers, and it certainly appears like Velazquez's talents would be put to positive use.
Franklin Arias, SS, BOS – Boston just dropped three of four to the Yankees, including the last two by a combined score of 25-3. The team's still sitting pretty as the second Wild Card, though have cooled off since their torrid July and early August having lost four of their last five. Arias is more than holding his own at Triple-A at only 20 by slashing .290/.350/.467 with four homers, 24 RBI and a steals through 28 contests. He may not yet be on the Red Sox' 40-man roster, but he'd certainly provide a jolt heading towards the postseason. Trevor Story is back at shortstop while Arias could operate at second base, a position the squad has struggled to fill this year.
CHECK STATUS
Seaver King, SS/3B, WAS – The move of CJ Abrams to second could actually be a longer-term move to clear the way for Eli Willits at shortstop, though King is already at Triple-A and has gone .304/.378/.536 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI and nine steals over 59 outings. He's recently received reps at third base as opposed to shortstop in order to increase his positional versatility. King isn't on Washington's 40-man roster, so a September promotion seems unlikely - though stranger things have happened.
Theo Gillen, OF, TB – It would certainly be a tantalizing proposition for the Rays to promote their top prospect as they attempt to clinch the AL East. Gillen exploded out of the gate at High-A and has largely continued his success at Double-A via 21 home runs and 42 stolen bases between the two levels. He's shown he can hit for average and power while always a threat to swipe a bag. Despite Gillen's meteoric rise, it would be extremely unlikely to see him in the majors during September. Not only is he not on the 40-man roster, but the Rays are notoriously conservative in promoting their top phenoms. As a result, expect Gillen to spend the rest of the way in the minors and likely also the start of 2027.
Josue De Paula/Mike Sirota, OF, LAD – This Dodgers duo has been tearing the cover off the ball at Double-A, yet the parent club has been on cruise control for most of the season and the two-time defending champs have little reason to mess with what's worked. Both are still intriguing with De Paula only 21 at Double-A and slashing .307/.402/.553 with 26 homers, 99 RBI and 29 steals. Sirota joined him there after a scorching start at High-A and has since produced a .293/.444/.492 line alongside 10 homers, 40 RBI and five stolen bases from 67 games. With Teoscar Hernandez struggling and a revolving door in center field now that Andy Pages is injured, LA could choose to add an influx of youth and talent to the outfield mix - though that will more than likely have to wait until next year.
Ethan Salas, C, SD – Salas was a teenaged phenom long ago and is now 20 and currently at Triple-A. He batted .285 at a premium position through 72 Double-A appearances while also healthy for the first time since 2024. Salas has been even better at Triple-A and probably taking advantage of the friendly offensive Pacific Coast League as he's gone .326/.410/.539 with three home runs, 24 RBI and three steals. Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano have left a lot to be desired behind the plate, opening the door for Salas as the catcher for both the future and present. But with the Padres only half a game back of the last Wild Card spot, it's unlikely the organization would choose to let a 20-year-old catcher work through his first taste of big-league ball.
DOWNGRADE
Arjun Nimmala, SS, LAA – Obtaining Nimmala from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline was a savvy move by the Angels' front office, yet the shortstop doesn't appear to be a legitimate candidate for a call-up as a hand laceration only hurt his chances. He's far and away the top organizational prospect, though there may be more caution with the current crop after previous regimes rushed their best up-and-comers. As a result, Nimmala is not only likely to end this year in the minors, but also begin 2027 there.
Jefferson Rojas, SS, NYM – Picking up Rojas from the Cubs was also a solid deal by the Mets, yet Rojas will likely end up having to move to second given the continued presence of Francisco Lindor. Learning a new position and coming from a different team while still 21 at Double-A and the MLB club not contending makes for him to stay out of the bigs. Both Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco have been subpar, so Rojas should get a chance to make the Mets out of spring training.
