Cincinnati Reds prospect Billy Hamilton headlines the list of youngsters most likely to be called up in September by MLB teams.
Hamilton, known for his blazing speed, has generated a lot of buzz heading into September as the Reds sit 3.5 games back in the NL Central while currently holding the second wild-card spot in the National League.
But Hamilton isn’t the only prospect who has generated hyperboles and superlatives throughout baseball.
Here’s a breakdown of the players deserving of promotions who can help out teams this season as they look ahead to the playoffs.
Billy Hamilton, OF, Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds)
In a press release on Friday, the Reds included outfielder Billy Hamilton on a list of call-ups they “expect” to make, per Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.
Hamilton isn’t exactly known for his bat (see what I did there?)—hitting .256 with a .308 on-base percentage this year for Triple-A Louisville—but his speed is simply out of this world.
Case in point: Hamilton has successfully stolen 75 bases in 90 tries this season with Louisville. That is after he stole 155 bases between High-A and Double-A last season. Last season in a game against Jacksonville, he reportedly ran the bases during an inside-the-park home run in 13.8 seconds, via John Otano of SI.com.
Of course, you don’t have to have those stats in front of you to know Hamilton has elite speed if you simply watch him run the bases once. He is a dynamic threat on the basepaths and will benefit the Reds this season even if he’s only used as a pinch runner.
Nick Castellanos, OF, Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers)
Nick Castellanos was likely to be called up by the Tigers before Miguel Cabrera’s injury (via Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com) on Friday.
Now it’s almost a sure thing.
The promising outfielder—ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect by Baseball America after the 2012 season—is batting .273 with 16 home runs, 72 RBI and 79 runs for Triple-A Toledo this season (524 at-bats, 132 games).
Tigers left fielders have collectively hit .258 this season. Even if Cabrera bounces back from his injury, Castellanos is likely to see playing time in Detroit, especially with the Tigers currently 7.5 games ahead in the AL Central.
Michael Choice, OF, Sacramento River Cats (Oakland Athletics)
Michael Choice—ranked as the Athletics’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America after the 2012 season—is hitting .298 with a .387 on-base percentage and 14 home runs, 89 RBI and 90 runs for Triple-A Sacramento this season. He ranks second in the Pacific Coast League in RBI, fourth in runs and 10th in on-base percentage.
The 23-year-old out of Texas has simply been raking.
Something tells me A’s general manager Billy Beane would like a guy who gets on base a lot as the Athletics find themselves currently in control of a wild-card spot, 2.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
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