MLB

MLB September Call-Ups: The Top 10 Hitters To Watch

MLB September Call-Ups: Top 10 Hitters To Watch

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September is the month when hardcore baseball fans still watch their favorite teams while fly-by-night fans stick to the new football season. As MLB rosters expand from 25 players to as many as 40, this is a great chance to see the future stars of the game. Last year, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton was one of the most exciting roster expansion call-ups. Here are 10 guys who aren't far from everyday big league jobs.

10. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

10. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

kris bryant
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cubs have the best upper minor league system in baseball In large part thanks to can't-miss prospects like Kris Bryant. This season, between double and triple-A ball, he's been abusing pitchers to a tune of a .341/.427/.660 slash with 36 home runs in 410 at-bats. He plays a solid third base, but some scouts see Bryant as a future right fielder. He will be the Cubs' opening day third baseman in 2015.

9. Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

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Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

9. Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

maikel franco
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Maikel Franco, a Philadelphia farm hand, cruised through the minors since he signed as a Dominican teenager. The Phillies have Franco playing for their triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In his first year with the IronPigs, he struggled out of the gate. Then July rolled around and Franco mashed the ball at a .343/.371/.596 clip with four jacks in 99 at-bats. He'll get his first major league cup of coffee in September.

8. Kyle Jensen, OF, Miami Marlins

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David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

8. Kyle Jensen, OF, Miami Marlins

kyle jensen
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Power is the name of Kyle Jenson's game. He's third in the PCL with 23 homers. His high strikeout rate is a little concerning, but the Marlins are in desperate need of another power bat compliment Giancarlo Stanton. Jensen is an above-average corner outfielder with a strong arm.

7. Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego Padres

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7. Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego Padres

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Rymer Liriano spent most of 2014 in double-A and was recently called to the Pads' triple-A affiliate in El Paso. The transition has been effortless as he has 21 hits in 47 at-bats. For those who don't have a calculator handy, that's a .447 batting average. Liriano has plus-plus power, and his range and arm make him a superb defender in right field.

6. Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

6. Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

joc pederson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers were lusting after David Price, but laid off as the Rays' asking price would most assuredly involved Joc Pederson. He's slashing .300/.427/.559 with 24 homers and 25 stolen bases for the Dodgers' triple-A club in Albuquerque. Pederson is the prime reason why the Dodgers have no need for Matt Kemp next season.

5. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

gary sanchez
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees have had their consensus No. 1 prospect down at double-A Trenton all season, but smart money says the Yanks will give him a look in September. He projects to be a .270-to-.280 hitter who will smack about 20 out of the yard. Behind the dish, he has a 12-gauge arm, but needs to improve his footwork to become an elite backstop.

4. Domingo Santana, OF, Houston Astros

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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

4. Domingo Santana, OF, Houston Astros

domingo santana
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Domingo Santana would like to forget his brief stint with Houston at the beginning of July. In four games (all starts), he had no hits and 11 strikeouts in 13 at-bats. Santana has smacked 14 home runs in triple-A and is slashing .292/.375/.469 in 390 at-bats. The Astros are thin in the outfield, and Santana is licking his chops for another opportunity with the big club.

3. Corey Seager, SS/3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

3. Corey Seager, SS/3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

corey seager
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Seager is another guy the Rays were clamoring over in the rumored David Price deal. Like Pederson, the team smartly held on to their prize prospect. For the Dodgers' double-A club, he hit 18 home runs with a .352 batting average. They decided to move him to triple-A, where he's rocking a .339 average with five doubles, two triples and one jack in 56 at-bats. Seager will be taking over Hanley Ramirez's job early next season.

2. Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs

jorge soler
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Another one of the Cubs' uber-prospects, Jorge Soler was sidetracked in late May with a hammy injury, but he is making up for lost time. In three different minor league stops this season, the Cuban has only 132 at-bats, but is hitting .371 with 11 blasts. The Cubbies will likely fast track him so their GM, baseball savant Theo Epstein, can smile knowing that his team will be a World Series contender by the 2019 season.

1. Andy Wilkins, 1B, Chicago White Sox

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1. Andy Wilkins, 1B, Chicago White Sox

andy wilkins
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Wilkins fell off of the baseball pundits' preseason top prospects lists and must've taken it personally. The classic power-hitting first baseman is slashing .296/.338/.571 while leading the triple-A International League in home runs, RBI and total bases. He's never tasted the majors, but that will all change in September.

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