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3 Cubs prospects to keep an eye on with September call-ups looming
Who will the Cubs call up to bolster their roster in the final month of the season?
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.
A long-shot, but seeing what Matt Shaw could bring would be exciting
Matt Shaw is a candidate, despite limited time at Iowa. I can't wait to see what he can do with the Cubs. However, I'm not leaning on bringing him up right away. He has been hot the last seven days in Triple-A, but this is one guy the Cubs need to make sure receives everyday at-bats for the rest of the season. He's still batting just .234/.357/.383 in Triple-A and probably is not ready to make the jump just yet.
The sky is still the potential for Shaw, who has been fantastic at every level once he's settled in and adjusted. Owen Caissie is a name heavily rumored to be the bat the Cubs call up this September, so although Shaw makes sense from a "let the kids play, he's a top prospect" standpoint, if he's not playing every day, it's a waste in his development.
Let's see what he does in spring training next year and go from there. He has nothing but time to prove himself, and we should expect him up at some point next season.
Moises Ballesteros could be an answer to a glaring Cubs' need
If the Cubs want to go crazy and give the people what they want, Moises Ballesteros' bat looks ready. In Triple-A Iowa, he is batting .259/.319/.453 after cooling off, but he still has 17 homers and 63 RBI. It remains to be seen if he sticks as a backstop, but the Cubs love the bat, which is advanced for his level and age.
Ballesteros is still just 20 years old, at the age a lot of college players get drafted and start their professional career in Low-A. He is well ahead of his competition, and although Caissie is the likely candidate to get the call, Ballesteros is next in line. Let's admit is. For the Cubs, the playoffs probably aren't in the cards.
If they shift their focus to next season and give a guy like Ballesteros everyday at-bats, cutting Bethancourt off the roster to make room. The team can then address what they want to do at the catcher position in the offseason, while still getting a look at Ballesteros in the meantime.
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