MLB

Which top Phillies prospects will be September call-ups?

Which top Phillies prospects will be September call-ups?
Getty Images

With four other teams ahead of them for the final wild card spot and sitting eight games back after Wednesday’s win, the Phillies can start to take a peek into their future as September lies around the corner.

The team took one step in that direction with the call-up of Jake Thompson last week. Despite a tough outing for the right-handed pitcher in his debut, Thompson has all the makings off a top of the rotation arm for the Phillies. It’s good for someone of his stature to get some major league experience to build off of before the next offseason, which is why major league rosters expand in September.

When will some of the other prospects start to hear their names called? Will J.P. Crawford finally come up this season or will he have to wait another season?

Roman Quinn

Perhaps not the most talked about outfield prospect, Quinn brings speed — a lot of it — to the table. With continued development, he can definitely be a league-leader among stolen bases at the next level. The issue with him has been health. That being said, he’s batting right around .300 in two seasons with Reading. A member of the 40-man roster, Quinn will most certainly be among the September call-ups as the Phillies look to groom him for what might be a very important spring training for him next season.

Nick Williams

Onto the top outfield prospect in the organization, Williams has knocked in 57 runs to date with 12 homers for Lehigh Valley. He’s the best hitting prospect and his power definitely will bode well at Citizens Bank Park. Fans have been waiting for his call-up; there’s a good chance he gets that nod in a few weeks.

Jorge Alfaro

While Cameron Rupp has been quite the surprise this season, there’s no doubt that Alfaro is projected as the catcher of the future. He has the makings of a five-tool catcher with real power, something the Phillies haven’t had in quite a while. Carlos Ruiz is under contract for one more season, but it’d be wise to give Alfaro a real look at the big league level before next spring training. He’s also on the 40-man roster, so he’s a safe bet to be called up in September.

J.P. Crawford

The top prospect in all of baseball, fans have been clamoring for his arrival for two seasons now. With Freddy Galvis struggling at the plate, it would seem now is the time to see what he has over the final few months. Unfortunately, logistics could hold him back this season. The Phillies don’t need to put him on the 40-man roster just yet to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but if they were to call him up, they would need to do that, potentially wasting a space for someone else who may need it. Because of this, it looks more and more likely that it’ll be next season before he makes his debut.