Late-season call-ups highlight prospects across MLB clubs
Four prospects—Ethan Salas, Walker Jenkins, Lazaro Montes and others—have been promoted as rosters expand in September, drawing attention to their recent performances and development prospects.
The September roster expansion has seen several top prospects receive major-league promotions. San Diego’s 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas, ranked No. 11 among midseason prospects, made his debut after posting a .286/.361/.417 line in Double-A and a .326/.410/.539 slash line in Triple-A El Paso, where his defensive skills and arm strength were noted.
Minnesota’s outfielder Walker Jenkins, the No. 19 prospect, appeared in the majors over the weekend and hit his first home run on Monday. In Triple-A he compiled a .308/.407/.532 slash line, with a 106.4 mph exit velocity and a 44.3 % hard-hit rate, though his health remains a concern.
Seattle’s outfielder Lazaro Montes, previously on a top-100 list, has demonstrated elite power in the minors, recording a 54.6 % hard-hit rate and exit velocities above 109 mph. However, analysts note a high swing-and-miss rate—40 % in Double-A and 38 % in Triple-A—and a tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone, which limits his effectiveness.
Other notable promotions include Baltimore left-hander Luis De León, who shifted from starting to relief work ahead of a possible call-up; St. Louis catcher Leo Bernal, whose offensive improvements suggest potential power production; Washington first/third baseman Yohandy Morales, who posted career-high home runs in Triple-A but shows weaknesses against high-velocity fastballs; Toronto left-hander Ricky Tiedemann, returning from injury with a brief major-league stint; and Chicago right-hander Tanner McDougal, who made a single appearance in August.
These call-ups illustrate how teams are using the expanded rosters to evaluate young talent and address positional needs as the season concludes.