3 Cubs prospects to keep an eye on with September call-ups looming

With September approaching, we're nearly ready for the rosters to expand from 26 to 28 players. With that comes some added reinforcements for teams eyeing the postseason via their best available players just outside the 26-man roster. Or, it could mean a chance for teams not heading to the postseason to let their top prospects get some much-needed experience at the highest level.

Patrick Mooney at The Athletic (subscription required) dropped some names that could be call-up-worthy this September, and all make sense for different reasons. However, some are more unlikely than others. Let's discuss three who could be eyeing a roster spot with the Cubs on September 1st.

Caleb Kilian could still prove valuable to the Cubs, despite a rocky start

Caleb Kilian was electric in spring training until an injury derailed most of his season. Now healthy, he is back at Triple-A Iowa, already on the 40-man roster, and one call away from being back on an MLB mound. Kilian owns a 3.04 ERA in 2024 at Triple-A Iowa and has looked good since returning. He can immediately provide a boost to the bullpen given his raw stuff. If Kilian can reach the potential he has always had, he's still capable of being a weapon for the Cubs.

Kilian was the top piece acquired in the Kris Bryant trade, which now feels like many moons ago. He hasn't stuck in the majors, but it looked like he turned a corner before the injury this season. The Cubs don't need to lean on him to be a starter, but he has the velo and stuff to be a late-inning closer when he's on his game. He has my vote to be called in once the calendar flips to September.