Predicting an Impactful Call-Up For Every American League Team

Chris Clegg predicts a call up for each American League team down the stretch of the season.

We have passed the 45-day threshold where prospects can be called up and not eclipse service time restrictions to allow them to be rookie eligible in 2024. Still, a player called up now, for instance Noelvi Marte or Masyn Winn will likely surpass the 130 at-bat limit if they play every day. A flurry of call ups is likely to happen in late August or early September, and I have you covered with a prospect on every National League team that could earn that call.

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American League East

Baltimore Orioles: Jackson Holliday, SS

It might seem crazy, but the 19-year-old Jackson Holliday appears more than ready with his bat to face big league pitching. The Orioles are contending, and Holliday is the best prospect in the world right now and has gotten better at every stop. He has ten home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a .336/.457/.531 slash. Holliday could impact this Orioles team down the stretch despite his age.

Boston Red Sox: Ceddanne Rafaela, OF

I have been wary of Rafaela’s aggressive approach for a while now, but he keeps making it work. Rafaela has been on an incredible heater and is up to 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases while slashing .302/.347/.523. He has seen a power uptick and the exit velocities to back it (89 mph average EV/104 mph 90th percentile EV). Rafaela might be a 70-grade center fielder, instantly making the Red Sox better in several facets of the game.

New York Yankees: Everson Pereira, OF

You could see this one coming from a mile away, and Pereira is now set to make his MLB debut on Tuesday with the Yankees. He has big power and speed, and hits the ball incredibly hard, but there are concerns with Pereira’s contact ability. I would not be surprised if he struggles with swing and miss early on.

Tampa Bay Rays: Austin Shenton, 3B

Austin Shenton is scorching hot and is ready for a callup to the Majors, but the only problem is where does he play? Yandy Díaz and Isaac Paredes occupy both corner infield spots in Tampa. But Shenton is proving he is worthy to be on the Rays’ roster as he has 24 home runs and a .306/.408/.591 slash this season between Double-A and Triple-A. The playing time might not come this year, but I think Shenton will get a call to Tampa in September.

Toronto Blue Jays: Addison Barger, SS

If not for injury, it is possible that Addison Barger would have already gotten the callup to Toronto. The surface numbers have been fine as Barger is slashing .261/.369/.427 with seven home runs and 25 extra-base hits in 60 Triple-A games. His underlying data is pretty strong as he has a 107 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a 90.3 mph average exit velocity. Barger’s contact numbers are strong as well as he has an 85 percent zone contact rate.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox: Korey Lee, C

The White Sox traded for Korey Lee in a deal that sent Kendall Graveman to the Astros. The White Sox have had a black hole at catcher for a while with Yasmani Grandal struggling for several years, and the team would like to see what Lee can do.

Cleveland Guardians: Kyle Manzardo, 1B

Manzardo has been dealing with a ton of off-the-field stuff this year, and then missed a month and a half after a shoulder strain. Manzardo is back rehabbing and could see at-bats down the stretch in Cleveland if all goes well with rehab.

Detroit Tigers: Justyn-Henry Malloy, 3B/OF

The Tigers already brought up Parker Meadows, and Colt Keith is looming, but Henry-Malloy seems poised to get the call next. A strong season in Triple-A in which he has a .417 OBP and 18 home runs certainly should certainly earn him a spot in the Tigers lineup down the stretch of the season.

Kansas City Royals: Anthony Veneziano, LHP

I have written about Veneziano several times recently, and let’s be honest, he deserves a chance to pitch in the Royals’ rotation down the stretch. Between Double-A and Triple-A this year, Veneziano has a 3.24 ERA and 108 strikeouts to just 36 walks in 105.2 innings. The lefty would make the Royals’ rotation better, and the Royals should see what they have in him for 2024.

Minnesota Twins: Louie Varland, RHP

Varland has been nothing short of incredible this season and has pitched much better than any surface number indicates. He technically has exhausted prospect eligibility, Varland is expected to get recalled and could make an impact on the Twins and your fantasy rotations in September.

American League West

Houston Astros: Pedro Leon, OF

Once a top prospect, now hardly talked about, León might finally be on the verge of making his MLB debut. León has been in Triple-A since 2021 and has accumulated 1031 plate appearances there. Leon has power and speed, but with questionable contact skills.

Los Angeles Angels: Kyren Paris, SS

The Angels do crazy things, as we have seen with Nolan Schanuel getting the call after just 21 Minor League games. Parin has intriguing power and speed as well as solid OBP skills. There are contact and chase concerns, but the Angels want to win, and Paris makes the lineup better.

Oakland Athletics: Darell Hernaiz, MI

Hernaiz has been flying under the radar but has put up a pretty solid season between Double-A and Triple-A, slashing .339/.397/.493 with eight home runs and 13 stolen bases. Despite the low home run total, Hernaiz has a 106 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a 90.5 mph average exit velocity. He pairs it with strong contact skills(81% overall/86% zone) and could be poised to make a September impact.

Seattle Mariners: Jonatan Clase, OF

Clase has had an up-and-down season that you can basically break down into three parts. Through May 15(151 plate appearances), Clase slashed .310/.417/.611 with eight home runs and 26 stolen bases. From May 16 through June 19(131 plate appearances), Clase slashed .185/.328/.454. Since June 20, Clase is back to up .245/.336/.388, and while the power is inconsistent, he is making more contact. Clase’s best aspect is his speed, and Clase could get the call to impact the Mariners down the stretch with his legs.

Texas Rangers: Justin Foscue, INF

The Rangers are stacked, and their lead is down to just 1.5 games in the AL West. Ezequiel Duran has been playing third base daily with Josh Jung out with a thumb injury. Duran has been sputtering with a .286 OBP since July first, and Foscue has had a strong season in Triple-A. Foscue makes high-end contact(93% zone) and does not chase often, while posting average power metrics. The Rangers could use a strong on-base bat in the bottom of their lineup, and Foscue may fit the bill.