The Chicago Cubs have called up one of their top prospects, Javier Baez, and he's expected to make his MLB debut on Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies. Did the Cubs' decision influence a number of other teams to do the same with their prized young players?
For those out of postseason contention and looking to build their team from within, general managers are aware that calling up a top prospect to get some major league experience is a prudent decision. Baez is the first of Keith Law's Top 50 MLB Prospects to be called up this season and it's likely more will come as August progresses.
The Cubs also have No. 1 ranked prospect Kris Bryant (third baseman) and No. 4 ranked prospect Addison Russell (shortstop; acquired in a trade with Oakland this year). Russell will likely have to wait a little longer as the Cubs have Starlin Castro at short and will put Baez at second base, but Bryant should perhaps be called to the majors soon because he's tearing up Triple-A Iowa (.314 average, 14 home runs, and 36 RBIs in 45 games). Earlier this year he was promoted from Double-A Tennessee where he batted .355 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs in only 61 games. Chicago is mulling a position change for Bryant, but with Luis Valbuena at third base, it's unknown why the 22-year-old Bryant isn't in the majors yet.
Top pitching prospects Kyle Zimmer of the Kansas City Royals and Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets could make their MLB debuts this season. However, Zimmer has missed all of this year because of a strained latissimus dorsi muscle and is expected to return to pitch in the minors within the next two weeks. The Royals want to bring him up to face MLB competition before the conclusion of the 2014 season because of his impressive four starts in Double-A Northwest Arkansas last year (1.93 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 18.2 innings). Similarly, the Mets want Syndergaard to face MLB action in September, and he has pleaded his case as of late by only surrendering one run in his last three starts (20 starts in Triple-A Las Vegas with a 4.85 ERA and 107 strikeouts).
Others have either paved the way or have tried to pave the way to make room for their prospects. The Cleveland Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera to the Washington Nationals just before the deadline so they can call up top prospect Francisco Lindor (shortstop) before season's end. The 20-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A Columbus after batting .278 with 48 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in Double-A Akron for much of the year. The Los Angeles Dodgers tried to trade Matt Kemp in hopes of making room for prospect Joc Pederson in the outfield. He is dominating Triple-A Albuquerque with a .303 average, 24 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. The Dodgers also have 20-year-old infield prospect Corey Seager who ripped through Single-A Rancho Cucamonga with a .352 average, 18 home runs, and 70 RBIs, but it's likely they'll develop him a bit more.
Other prospects that could be called up before the year ends include pitcher Archie Bradley of the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitcher Jacob Lindgren of the New York Yankees, pitcher Alex Meyer of the Minnesota Twins, infielder D.J. Peterson of the Seattle Mariners, and third baseman Jake Lamb of the Arizona Diamondbacks, among others.
