September is for Next Year
September Callups, Part 1
Tyler Flowers joins the White Sox this month as part of a team-wide casting call for 2010.
Every September, MLB rosters expand from a restrictive twenty-five players to a robust forty. It's a time when contenders use the extra flexibility to rest their veterans and prepare for a playoff push. But for most teams, it's a chance to take a look at some of their top prospects, to get an idea whether they'll be ready for big-league action next spring.
Some September callups, like Francisco Rodriguez or David Price, provided immediate star power that propelled their teams through the playoffs, but most of the stars of September use the month as a tryout for next season. In this first part of our look at this month's callups, we'll focus on some of the American League's most intriguing likely visitors.
Wade Davis, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays: A hot righthander in a deep Tampa system, Davis is probably the next-most ready to take over a permanent rotation spot, especially on a team suddenly without ace Scott Kazmir. With David Price seeming to find his stride at long last, Tampa could be looking at an awfully young 1-2 punch come 2010.
Junichi Tazawa, RHP, Boston Red Sox: Tazawa got a head-start on September as he was called upon to make some emergency starts to support the depleted Red Sox rotation in August, but he'll be back for all of September. He's looked almost-ready so far, but the Red Sox will want to be cautious, slotting him in as their fifth starter for 2010, in pencil, at best.
Austin Jackson, OF, New York Yankees: Jackson is the Yankees' center fielder of the future, and while he's probably not ready to take over that job just yet, the scattershot depth of outfielders in Yankee-town means that he might end up with a bench job and a few spot starts anyway, especially once the team has locked down its playoff rights.
Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Cleveland Indians: The top Phillies pitching prospect until he was shipped off for Cliff Lee, Carrasco has impressed in the Cleveland system so far, going 5-1 and posting an ERA of 3.19 ERA. As the team looks to plan its 2010 rotation, expect Carasco to get a long look.
Tyler Flowers, C, Chicago White Sox: A power hitting catcher who should be the White Sox full-time starter by 2011 or so, Flowers posted a combined line of .297/.423/.516 across two levels of minor-league play this year. He's not ready for an MLB gig just yet, and next spring isn't very likely either, but this month should give him a chance to get familiar with the park, the coaches, and the pitching staff... all useful preliminaries for his inevitable late-2010 return to The Show, and by that time it should be to stay.
Casey Fien, RHP, Detroit Tigers: Fien is a closer candidate on a team that seems chest-deep in closer prospects. With a fastball that nears triple digits and a powerful strikeout slider, the 26-year old should get a chance to solidify the revolving door of setup artists in Detroit.
Mike Carp, 1B, Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley's not ready yet, and he's not a real first baseman, anyway: he'll be working out in the outfield for the rest of his career. Mike Carp, once the Mets' best-looking corner prospect, is now a Mariner who could contribute to the team right away, and lock down a starting job for 2010 with a good performance. Seattle has only a slim mathematical chance of making the playoffs as September starts, but they should be proud at putting together a winning season when few gave them a chance. If they're even better in 2010, youngsters like Carp will be a big reason why.
Chris Carter, 1B, Oakland Athletics: Another big first base bat, Oakland's Chris Carter is long-due for a look with the big club after destroying minor league pitching this year. With Oakland's offense looking even more anemic than usual lately, the team should be eager to give Carter a long, long look for 2010.
Our look at callups will continue later this week with some highlights from the NL.
