The Cardinals and Angels have each called up top prospects as they prepare for the final stretch of the 2023 season. Plenty of other teams could soon follow suit.
Masyn Winn and Nolan Schanuel are headed to the majors to join St. Louis and Los Angeles. Before the end of the season, there will likely be several other big name players from the minors primed to join their big-league clubs.
It used to be that September saw more prospects reach the majors. But changes to the collective bargaining agreement in 2022 put a damper on that, with rosters expanding only to 28 players rather than the previous 40.
But while the rosters aren't expanding as much as they used to, there are still plenty of reasons for teams to want to bring up their top prospects to the majors before the end of the season.
MORE: Will the Orioles call up Jackson Holliday?
Here's why you'll see more prospects called up in August and September.
Why MLB teams are calling up top prospects
Entering play on Friday, there were 45 days left in the 2023 MLB regular season. The threshold for a player to maintain rookie eligibility for the following season: 45 days.
That means a team could promote a prospect for the remainder of the campaign, and as long as that prospect doesn't exceed 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched the rest of the way, they will still be considered a rookie in 2024.
Giving a player experience in the majors in 2023 and having them on the big-league roster from the start of the 2024 season can be a big advantage for both player and team. Last year, the Orioles called up Gunnar Henderson and the Diamondbacks called up Corbin Carroll in late August. Both are now front-runners for Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues.
Prospects who begin the season on the Opening Day roster and win Rookie of the Year earn their team an incentive: an early draft pick. Last year, Julio Rodriguez earned the Mariners the No. 29 pick in the draft. If Henderson and Carroll win Rookie of the Year, the Orioles and Diamondbacks will each net extra draft picks for starting their prospects in the majors on Opening Day. Players who finish second or third gain teams a pick in the international draft.
MORE: How fast is Bobby Witt Jr.?
Should the player soar even higher, finishing either as a top-three player in MVP or Cy Young voting, they earn their team a pick after the first round. Players who are fourth or fifth earn international picks. Given Carroll's season, it's not out of the question that he might earn the Diamondbacks that pick for MVP voting.
There's incentive for the players, as well. In addition to gaining big-league experience, they also would receive a full year of service time, which helps get them closer to arbitration and free agency.
There is another key component to that pick incentive, however: they have to be considered "prospects." That means the player must be on at least two of the top-100 lists compiled by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America or ESPN.
Given the "prospect" status, it makes the most sense to try and give top prospects one of those extra roster spots rather than a player with less prestige that would not benefit the team with a draft pick.
MLB prospects who could be promoted in 2023
Jackson Holliday, SS, Orioles
This would be perhaps the most aggressive, yet most exciting promotion. And given the 19-year-old's rapid rise through the minors, it appears more likely by the day he'll force Baltimore's hand for a promotion in 2024. If Baltimore wants to make sure he's big-league ready when the season begins, it could benefit the team to give him a taste of the majors in 2023 to see how he fares.
Holliday was promoted to Double-A this season, and in 22 games, he's posted a ridiculous .352/.406/.549 slash line. He'd need to be added to the 40-man roster, but that might be a worthy move to make to allow Holliday to gain MLB experience before possibly becoming a regular in 2024, and help a playoff run in the process.
Austin Wells, C, Yankees
Yankee fans are already clamoring for Wells to receive the call to the majors. Wells has ascended to Triple-A in 2023, and he's impressed during his brief stint at the level, slashing .253/.344/.386 with a home run and 10 walks to 23 strikeouts. The left-handed swinging catcher is considered a future impact batter, with above-average raw power, solid plate discipline and the ability to make consistent contact.
Neither Kyle Higashioka nor Jose Trevino are hitting at their previous levels, and neither are going to be the catchers of the future in New York. Calling up the 24-year-old Wells now could allow New York to get a glimpse of the future and possibly upgrade the position for the final stretch of the season at the same time. He'd just need to qualify on one more top prospect list before he could earn New York the extra pick in 2024.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was asked about the possibility of promoting Crow-Armstrong, the team's top prospect, before the end of the season, and he did not rule it out, saying instead that "we'll see." Crow-Armstrong has not been in Triple-A long, but he's put up outstanding numbers with a .302/.422/.585 slash with four home runs and four steals in just 13 games.
Crow-Armstrong has all the makings of a future Gold Glove center fielder, while also boasting a standout ability to make contact from the left side. He's got some decent pop and is a plus runner, which could make him a valuable player for the Cubs as they look to take the NL Central title. With current center fielder Cody Bellinger likely leaving in free agency this offseason, Crow-Armstrong could get a taste of big-league action before taking over the position full-time as a 22-year-old in 2024.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Any time the Giants have an open start, it feels like it could be time for Harrison to make his debut. It hasn't happened to this point, but with him only at 67.2 total innings, as of Friday, it seems he could be getting closer. The biggest concern for the 22-year-old this season has been walks, though he's had three walkless outings over his past four appearances.
The ERA (4.66) and walk rate (16.3 percent) are both a bit high at Triple-A, but the strikeout rate (35.6 percent) and filthy stuff show why San Francisco might want to roll the dice on him during a stretch where they try to lock up a wild card. Harrison's stuff, especially out of the bullpen, could be a real weapon in the final month of the season.
Connor Phillips, RHP, Reds
It has been a major breakout campaign for the 22-year-old Phillips, who has struck out an impressive 35.8 percent of the batters he's faced between Double-A and Triple-A with a 3.28 ERA across his 96 innings of work. Though he's rapidly nearing his career-high in innings (109.2 from 2022), he could still be an option to give the Reds some quality innings over the remainder of the season.
The Reds have surprisingly found themselves in playoff contention, and have continued to turn to young arms like Brandon Williamson and Andrew Abbott. Even with Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo coming back from injury soon to rejoin Graham Ashcraft, Williamson and Abbott, the Reds could still use some added pitching help to share the load of this young staff.
