Alex Kielar Aug 17th, 2019
With September looming and pennant races tightening, it’s almost time for major league rosters to expand from 25 to 40. So I am going to give you a series of articles breaking down the likely most impactful September Call-Ups for all 30 teams. Now for the American League Central.
Minnesota Twins: LHP Lewis Thorpe
The Twins are set for a dogfight with the Indians for the America League Central, with the losing team in jeopardy of losing out on the playoffs altogether. With this in mind, the Twins will need all the pitching help they can get, and Thorpe is one of their highest ranked pitching prospects and 11th overall, who has appeared in four games for the big club this year. In those four appearances, one of them being a start, he gave up four runs and 14 hits while striking out 10 and walking two in 11.1 innings. He has made 18 starts and appeared in another game for AAA Rochester, holding a 4.63 ERA with 113 strikeouts to 25 walks for a SO/BB ratio of 10.9 and 1.221 WHIP. Thorpe can give the Twins innings, either with spot starts or bulk innings out of the pen, while he has the stuff and control to get batters out.
Cleveland Indians: LHP Logan Allen
Acquired from the Padres in the Trevor Bauer trade, the highly-touted Allen is the Indians third-ranked prospect. He has appeared in one game for the Indians since the trade, on August 14, pitching 2.1 innings giving up three hits, no runs, and no walks while striking out three. Allen got sent right back down after, but should be back up with the team come September. He also got some innings for the Padres prior to the trade, starting four games and relieving four others, surrendering 19 earned runs, 13 walks, and 33 hits, while striking out 14 in 25.1 innings. He has a solid four-pitch arsenal of a late-moving fastball to attack hitters, a changeup that plays off the fastball, and a slider and curveball that he controls nicely. He could definitely be an innings eater for the Indians, any time of the game. Spot starts, closing, holding, bulk, etc. He will be a very important versatile arm for Tito Francona and the Indians.
Chicago White Sox: OF Luis Robert
The White Sox are obviously not going anywhere this season, with not much to play for. Their future is bright, however, and their number one overall prospect in Robert is all but ready for the show. He has dominated at every level in the minor leagues, now at AAA Charlotte after moving up three levels this season. Overall, Robert has slashed .341/.394/.627 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI, while also bringing speed to the table with 36 stolen bases. He definitely has a lot of 30-30 potential and if he performs well this year in September, he will not only be in the starting lineup next season but will bring excitement to the fans and get attendance up. He is also the fifth-ranked overall prospect in the majors right now, so he will bring excitement all across the league. Other than division and wild card races, top prospects getting the call is the next best thing.
Kansas City Royals: 3B Kelvin Gutierrez
The Royals, like the White Sox, have a pretty promising future, and Gutierrez is one of their most ready prospects, who has already gotten the call this season. He has played in 20 games for the big club, slashing .260/.304/.356 with one home run and 11 RBI over 73 at-bats. In 73 games for AAA Omaha, Gutierrez has slashed .288/.370/.428 with nine home runs and 42 RBI. He has shown the ability to hit to all fields while also having a high ceiling for power, and has a plus arm and fielding at third base. He should give the Royals solid production late in the season and show them what they will get for next season.
Detroit Tigers: SS Willi Castro
The switch-hitting shortstop Castro is the Tigers 11th overall prospect, as they got him for Leonys Martin at last year’s trade deadline. He made a very strong impression as he made his Tigers debut at the end of last year, slashing .317/.353/.516 over 31 games and ended the season with AAA Toledo. He can hit the ball to all fields and has a line-drive approach, but has also tapped into some power. This season at Toledo, Castro has slashed .294/.360/.436 with seven home runs and 53 RBI over 111 games. He isn’t the best defensive shortstop, but he has shown improvement and should give the Tigers promise at the end of the season going into next.
Check out All of the Articles in the September Call-Up Series: AL East
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