Callups Galore! 7 Names to Consider

The calendar has finally flipped to September 1, which means that teams can now expand their active roster from 26 to 28 players. It’s a fun time for fantasy owners as oodles of new players are recalled, some of whom could make significant impacts over the final month of the season. Let’s review some of those callups, along with some additional names recalled a bit earlier than yesterday.

Zack Gelof | ATH 2B

The former fifth best prospect in the Athletics system, Gelof had shown some intriguing fantasy potential during his first two seasons, delivering both power and speed. With the Athletics moving to what figured to be a more hitter friendly park this year, Gelof made for a nice little sleeper. Unfortunately, he battled a couple of injuries that pushed his season debut to early July. Then less than 10 days later after struggling at the plate, he was optioned to Triple-A.

He’s back now, getting the call to return in late August and hitting his first home run of the season. He still hasn’t stolen a base yet, though, and has only even attempted one steal. Strikeouts have been a major problem here. He struck out 34.4% of the time last year and is at a crazy 52% so far this season. It’s not even due to ultra passivity leading to too many called strikes — his SwStk% was in the mid-to-high teens his first two seasons and is over 21% this year. So he simply struggles to just make contact.

Sticking with the flaws, he hasn’t done himself any favors given his paltry walk rate. A low walk rate, combined with a high strikeout rate is a recipe for a low OBP, but when paired with a high BABIP like in 2023, it’s not so bad.

I’m sure his strikeout rate will improve, but likely not to the point he’ll contribute positive value in batting average. He should hit some homers though when he does make contact, and you have to assume he’ll start attempting more steals as well. It makes him worth a look in deeper leagues.

Jordan Lawlar | ARI All Over the Infield

Lawlar has seemingly been a top prospect for years and was last ranked as the Diamondbacks top name and 10th overall. Recalled last Friday, he has started three of four games, all at third base. You would have to assume that a rebuilding team will give him as much playing time as he could handle.

His scouting grades paint the picture of an intriguing fantasy asset with 50/60 Raw Power and 70/70 Speed. I love those combo meals! Indeed, he has delivered both power and speed in the minors, with a pace of 20+ homers and 40+ steals at Triple-A this year. That power was driven by a 41.4% HardHit% and 113.3 MPH maxEV, which are strong figures. His 20 steals came in just 23 attempts and he’s always been a strong basestealer historically. He hasn’t yet attempted a steal in the Majors this year, but that’s because incredibly he has gone hitless in 27 at-bats and didn’t attempt a steal after any of his three walks.

He has posted some strong BABIP marks in the minors, with a high LD%, so he shouldn’t kill you in batting average, even if he’s doing so now. Given his consistent double digit walk rate, his value gets a nice boost in OBP formats. He’s a clear add in those leagues, even in 12-team mixed, and probably should be speculated on in standard batting average leagues that size as well, especially if you could gain stolen base points.

George Valera | CLE OF

I remember when Valera was one of the top prospects in baseball because he was on my keeper league roster at the time and I traded him away to secure a championship that year. Boy, have the times changed. Valera is no longer the prospect he once was, ranking just 31st among Guardians names.

Injuries have derailed his career, as he hasn’t reached 400 plate appearances since 2022. He was at just 170 this season before his recall to make his MLB debut. He has still recorded some pretty good skills. He’s posted a double digit walk rate nearly everywhere he has played and doesn’t swing and miss too often for a guy with his power. So the strikeout rates have been low-to-mid 20% range, which is totally acceptable.

He has also consistently posted high teen to low 20% HR/FB rates with ISO marks over .200. A history of middling to low BABIP marks, though, means he could struggle to avoid hurting your team’s batting average. A potential above average walk rate, though, should boost his value in OBP formats, where he’s worth speculating on.

The question is how much he’ll play. He started at DH yesterday in his debut, but Gabriel Arias missing a third straight game opened up a slot. Once he returns, perhaps he steals Daniel Schneemann’s time and at the very least, serves on the strong side of a platoon.

Cam Devanney | PIT 3B

Though already 28 years old, he actually ranked as the 11th best Pirates prospect this year! Devanney was actually recalled on Saturday and has started one of two games so far at third base. With incumbent Isiah Kiner-Falefa gone, it seems like it’s clearly Devanney’s job right now.

Devanney’s walk and strikeout rates are surprising to me. A double digit walk rate is good and a mid-20% strikeout rate is fine. But that came with a 15.9% SwStk%, which is quite high and typically matches with a much higher strikeout rate. When it doesn’t, it’s usually because the hitter is a free swinger and walks infrequently, but that isn’t the case here. So I’m quite curious how he managed the reasonable strikeout rate, while swinging and missing so often, but also taking his walks. I would imagine he won’t be as lucky in the Majors and his strikeout would rise, assuming a similar SwStk%.

He has been a fly ball hitter nearly everywhere he has played, which should really help his home run output. He has posted mid-teen HR/FB rates, backed by a bit above average HardHit% marks and maxEV, which seem likely to result in league averageish power in the Majors. But the high fly ball rate could boost the homer count, which will help his fantasy value. He doesn’t really steal bases and hasn’t hit for average in the minors, so you’re really just hoping he delivers some power.

Given the weak lineup and playing home games in the toughest park in baseball for right-handed home runs, I would leave him to NL-Only leaguers.

Sal Stewart | CIN 3B

Wowzers, Stewart was the Reds sixth best prospect with an ETA of…wait for it…2028! Who ever beats their ETA by three years?! He was recalled yesterday and already stole a start from Spencer Steer at first base. It’s unclear though if this will become a regular occurrence, he’ll rotate between that position, third base, and DH, or he’ll be used mostly as a bench bat.

He accrued nearly 500 PAs in the minors this year and showed pretty good plate discipline metrics. He walked at just under a double digit rate, though it was actually over 11% in his 165 Triple-A PAs. He also struck out at just a mid-teens clip and that mark barely increased at the higher level, which is a good sign. That said, his SwStk% is a bit higher than I would expect given the strikeout rate, so I wouldn’t bet on him maintaining a mid-teen mark in the Majors. The projection systems agree, so that’s something that’s going to affect his results and fantasy contributions.

Before arriving at Triple-A, he had shown mediocre power with low-to-mid teen HR/FB rates and mid-.100 ISO marks. Then he suddenly exploded at Triple-A, as his HR/FB rate surged above 20% and ISO skyrocketed to .315. Did the light bulb go on? His Statcast metrics were impressive and do back up the power outburst, so that’s pretty intriguing for a 21-year-old.

Oh, and he doesn’t just bring power potential. He also stole 17 bases this year, while getting caught just three times. So you have another power/speed mix who might also be a neutral in batting average given the strikeout rate. With the league’s second best home run park for right-handers to aid him, I’m pretty excited about his fantasy potential. Obviously, he’s just 21, so we can’t expect fireworks immediately, but he’s got the skills worth speculating on in the majority of league formats.

Carter Jensen | KC C

Word on the street is that the Royals will be recalling their top prospect and 66th ranked overall before today’s game. Clearly, with Salvador Perez filling the catcher role regularly, the team will perhaps move one of them to DH or Jensen will merely be some added depth and not start often. We’ll have to see how the playing time shakes out.

Jensen is yet another skilled walker as he walked 12.2% of the time, including a 16.3% walk rate at Triple-A this year. Hello OBP leagues! His strikeout rate did jump at the higher level, but his SwStk% was more stable. This time, the rates match my expectations, as I assume he became a bit too passive at Triple-A, leading to more walks, but also too many called strikes. That’s a better problem to have than too many swings and misses.

He posted giant BABIP marks this year, backed by mid-20% LD% marks, but the projection systems don’t buy him maintaining that level, all forecasting sub-.300 BABIP marks. That’s definitely not going to happen if he keeps hitting liners at that same rate.

Like Stewart, Jensen’s power suddenly exploded at Triple-A. His HR/FB rate and ISO went from 8.3% and .128 at Double-A, to a crazy 35% and .359 at Triple-A. He even recorded a 58.8% HardHit% at Triple-A, though the 110 MPH maxEV is less impressive. What’s cool here is that Jensen is the rare catcher with speed, as he swiped 10 bases this year, after stealing 17 last year.

The playing time outlook is cloudy, but if he gets even standard catcher time of four to five games a week, he’ll absolutely be worth adding in most formats. We won’t know this until after the fact, of course, so might as well pick him up in case he does become a regular as the bar for earning value as a catcher is pretty low.