The art of the call-up has evolved over the decades as the fine print in Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement gets revised every few years.
And now, the date to watch for the semi-coincidental arrival of top prospects is almost upon us: Aug. 15.
That’s the day franchises can summon minor leaguers for their major league debuts, while still maintaining their rookie status for the 2026 season. And if a consensus top 100 prospect either wins Rookie of the Year next year or earns a top-three finish in MVP or Cy Young Award voting in their first three seasons, the club is awarded a prospect promotion incentive draft pick, slotted just after the first round of the following season’s draft.
A bit convoluted, yes, but just know that if a rash of blue chip prospects arrive this week, that’s why. Here’s a look at six of the most prominent potential arrivals:
Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles
Orioles GM Mike Elias loves his draft picks and loves it even more when a recent draftee produces an extra pick and bonus pool money thanks to the PPI stipulation. That was the case with Gunnar Henderson, who debuted in August 2022 and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.
Enter Basallo, who turns 21 Aug. 13. The 6-4 Dominican signee largely dominated Class AAA as a 20-year-old, with a .997 OPS, 23 homers and a 13.7% walk rate. While he still needs significant growth behind the plate – as all 20-ish catchers do – it behooves the Orioles to see what the bat can do before laying groundwork for 2026. And Basallo, Baseball America’s No. 7 overall prospect, could be joined by Norfolk teammate Dylan Beavers. The outfielder, who turned 24 Aug. 11, posted a .948 OPS with 18 homers and 22 steals.
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, San Francisco Giants
At 6-7, 240, Eldridge represents the perennially power-starved Giants’ best shot in years at producing a homegrown slugger. Still just 20, Eldridge was slowed by injury this year but has gotten going at Class AAA Sacramento, where he has 12 homers but also 50 strikeouts in 157 plate appearances.
If recency bias matters, Eldridge should get summoned west on I-80: He’s posted a .298/.388/.667 line his past 15 games, with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. So long as San Francisco can handle an extra gust of wind from some swing-and-miss, no harm in dreaming of Eldridge and Rafael Devers sliding in between right-handers Matt Chapman and Willy Adames in that lineup.
JJ Wetherholt, INF, St. Louis Cardinals
He could’ve been the top pick in the 2024 draft but slid to No. 7 and the Cardinals, who were thrilled to land such talent there. And Wetherholt has not disappointed, reaching Class AAA by July and hardly slowing his roll, with a .298/.414/478 line and 18 steals in 20 chances in 112 professional games.
Now, the age-old quandary: Consistent playing time or a taste of the big leagues? Masyn Winn is entrenched at shortstop and a handful of multi-position types are also vying for at-bats in St. Louis. Wetherholt, a West Virginia product, has adjusted smoothly to every level; it will take a lot to force the issue, but if he’s still unstoppable by the end of this month, it might be pragmatic to keep the ceiling off his ability.
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs
So, just how confident are the Cubs in re-signing Kyle Tucker? The sterling trio of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Tucker – along with DH Seiya Suzuki – leave no place for Caissie to play in Chicago, but he’s probably scraped his head on the ceiling a few times at Class AAA Iowa.
Caissie has played 218 games and taken 944 plate appearances at AAA the past two seasons, hit 40 homers and posted an .892 OPS. It would probably take an injury to get Caissie to Wrigley Field, but he’s already on the 40-man roster. And Caissie could help both their pennant drive and their winter fortune telling should Tucker find greener pastures.
Trey Yesavage, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have thoughtfully yet urgently nudged Yesavage through four levels this season, and now the 20th overall pick in 2024 has landed at Class AAA Buffalo – just as the big club sees the Boston Red Sox lurking four games out in the AL East.
With Shane Bieber likely to join the rotation after one more rehab appearance, Yesavage may not be needed to start. But the deeper reaches of the Blue Jays’ pen has been a revolving door and the club needs quality innings, regardless of role.
Yesavage struck out an eye-opening 15 batters per nine innings at his three stops; should he keep that up at Buffalo, crossing the Peace Bridge to the Jays’ bullpen is very much in play.
Travis Bazzana, INF, Cleveland Guardians
Like Yesavage, Bazzana just landed at Class AAA, after a promotion from AA Akron. And like Yesavage, Bazzana could provide a specific skill set to boost a team suddenly in the playoff picture.
As a matter of course, we’ll pump the brakes a bit: Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick a year ago, missed two months with an oblique strain and has just 85 professional games under his belt. On the other hand, the Guardians’ mix-and-match of middle infielders – Gabriel Arias (84 adjusted OPS), Daniel Scheeneman (98), Brayan Rocchio (68) and Angel Martinez (81) are all producing below league average at the plate.
And Bazzana ended his Akron stint on a heater, with a .367 OBP and .779 OPS while reducing his K rate from his previous stint. Bazzana will surely be a favorite for 2026 AL Rookie of the Year. It might make sense to start banging that drum very soon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Major League baseball prospects who could be promoted to MLB in August
