As August winds down and September rolls in—a significant time in the baseball season—there is one constant with MLB that tends to cause some mayhem. It’s September call-up time, and rosters can be expanded. As a result, we can expect the Arizona Diamondbacks to take full advantage.
What Changes on September 1st
April through September, the first five months of the season, each team has its 25-man active roster. But on September 1st, active rosters can increase to as many as 40 players. Teams definitely take advantage of this, with some teams using the full 40-man roster —especially teams contending for a Wild Card spot. A key thing to remember about September call-ups is that players must be on the team’s current 40-man active roster to be considered for a call-up. The 40-man roster includes a combination of players on the 25-man roster, the seven and 10-day injured lists, the bereavement/family medical emergency list, and the paternity leave list, as well as some Minor League prospects.
Minor League Seasons Ending
As the Minor League affiliates of each team finish out their seasons, more players begin arriving to the big-league club ready to help out. September “call-up” players are players from the minors who are ready to get Major League experience and, especially for teams in contention, to provide reinforcements down the stretch. The most popular players are those who can be utilized as extra bullpen arms, catchers, and bench players who can play multiple positions. These players not only want to assist the team, but they want to prove they can play at the major-league level and earn a permanent position next season.
2019 September Call-Ups for Arizona
The Arizona Diamondbacks will certainly call up some players. They have some obvious candidates and others that will fill specific needs. The biggest need will undoubtedly be bullpen arms. How many they call up remains to be seen, but you can expect there will be some familiar names added.
Pitchers to Consider
Since the Minor League season is still active at this point, lists of players being considered have not been made available. However, barring any season-ending injuries during the next week, players to consider include Triple-A pitchers Stefan Crichton, Jon Duplantier, Robby Scott, and Jimmie Sherfy — who is currently on the IL. One other pitcher to watch for could be Emilio Vargas who is pitching at Double-A Jackson.
Position Players to Consider
The Diamondbacks will also have some position players called up. They most likely will include Kevin Cron, Caleb Joseph, and Domingo Leyba. With the exception of Vargas, all of these players have been with the Diamondbacks at some point during this season.
Fun Time for the Last Month
We know that Sunday, September 1st is a date that players in the minors have circled on their calendar. Whether you think the Diamondbacks are still competing for a postseason spot or looking ahead to the future, it is a great opportunity to give someone an extended audition for an invite to Spring Training in 2020.
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