Predicting the Seattle Mariners September Call Ups

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We have just about 5 weeks until the Mariners 2019 season comes to a close. But we are just one week away from the rosters expanding to 40 for the final time as MLB will limit roster expansion to 28 starting next season.

For the Mariners, for the first time in a long time, there are legitimate prospects to dream about getting a September call up, which could make the final month of the season the most fun for fans in a tough 2019.

Most of the names you’ll see on this list are fairly obvious. Some are questionable thanks to injury concerns. And anybody not playing in Arkansas or Tacoma are so unlikely to make the jump to the big leagues in a week, we will just eliminate them. Also, any number of relievers could be recalled, so let’s simplify more and eliminate them.

We also need to remember that for every player called up who isn’t on the 40 man roster, the need to DFA somebody becomes real. Right now, the Mariners have 2 open spots on the 40 man but can create a few more spots by moving Mitch Haniger to the 60 days IL or dropping players such as Ryan Court, Matt Carasiti, or Matt Festa.’

But with all that in mind, let’s knock out some of the obvious names:

Braden Bishop

Bishop is working his way back from a lacerated kidney sustained after being hit by a pitch in the ribs in June. Bishop is just about finished with his rehab assignment and may be called up before September first.

Upon his arrival, the Mariners will probably want to manage his workload in the final month but should give him 10-12 starts in centerfield and use him as a defense replacement a handful of times as well.

Bishop never got the consistent PAs necessary in his first and second look with the Mariners, but Seattle needs to know what they have. The upside is a top of the order catalyst with Gold Glove defense, the downside is a 4th OF. Finding out which he is can only help in trade talks this winter or helping decide what his role on the 2020 team will be.

Shed Long

The prospect most hurt by injuries this season, Long is still working his way back from a finger injury so his call up isn’t set in stone. After beginning his big league career 0-12, Long started to find his groove at the plate, slashing .267/.353/.433 while playing a solid second base.

He was demoted when Dee Gordon was healthy and continued to crush in the PCL and appeared close to being recalled when he was hit by a pitch and broke a finger. The team had plans of using Long all over the field but he largely stuck at second base this season.

If he can return, the original plan is the best way to get him into the lineup. He may have just missed too much time to be a factor in September, but if healthy, giving him even 20 PAs could be a plus for him heading into 2020.

Justin Dunn

After the Arkansas Travellers season ends (hopefully after a championship), there are a few players who could find their way to Seattle for the final 2-3 weeks of 2020. One of them is RHP Justin Dunn. The secondary piece of the Diaz Cano trade, Dunn has spent the entire season in AA and the results have been rock solid.

In this season, he has posted a 3.67 ERA, a 10.6 K/9, a 2.7 BB/9, and a 1.22 WHIP. Dunn is only 13 innings from passing his career-high, so by the time he is done in Arkansas, he may not have many bullets left.

Using him on out of the bullpen on a tight schedule, or as an Opener, maybe a way to get him a handful of innings before he begins 2020 in Tacoma.

Kyle Lewis

Kyle Lewis is wrapping up a solid, but unspectacular 2020 season. The average and OBP are great, but the power, which was supposed to be Lewis’ calling card, has been a major disappointment. His swing just isn’t designed to take advantage of his greatest tool; power.

Lewis’ swing is long and has generated a groundball rate of over 40%. Ideally, he would be around 30%. After all, you can’t hit home runs if you are putting the ball on the ground or striking out. Now, the MLB ball could be a cheat code to turn some of his doubles into home runs, but he just isn’t ready to get a full season against big-league arms.

Lewis will probably start 2020 in Tacoma and may get a handful of AB’s at T-Mobile next month, but this is the call up I have the most reservations about.

Evan White

Like Dunn and Lewis, White has spent his entire 2019 in AA Arkansas and after dealing with some adversity via injuries, White has produced at a solid rate in the Texas League. His .286/.340/.472 slash line is nice, as is his premier defense.

But White still has work to do in the power department. He has set a career-high in home runs with 16, but it is still fringe-average for the position. White is a good athlete and currently, his bat actually profiles best in center field, a position he could handle if needed.

White has shown strides this season and works hard to grow his game. But the PA’s are likely not going to be there for him in September, so holding him out and sending him to the AZFL again before shipping him to AAA Tacoma for the start of 2020 may be the better play.

Donnie Walton

I like Donnie Walton. He is just about as mistake-free as you can get. He so rarely makes a mental mistake on the field, it is worth monitoring when he does. He isn’t flashy. He is a bit too old to be in AA. And he doesn’t have one stand out tool. But he is just a ballplayer.

He is primarily a second baseman, yet he can handle shortstop if needed. Walton has quietly had an excellent year in Arkansas, slashing .299/.395/.426 in 117 games, showing some decent pop along the way (11 home runs, 20 doubles).

I do see some Joey Wendle in his game with a floor of Mark Ellis. I think he is ultimately a 24th or 25th man on the roster, but one that can do a little bit of everything. I’d love to see him with the big club.

Ricardo Sanchez

Perhaps the most unheralded of the vaunted Arkansas rotation, Sanchez has quietly had a very nice season for the Travelers. Acquired for cash from the Braves, Sanchez has posted a 3.88 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 3.74 K/BB ratio.

He’s not flashy and has already blown by his career high in innings pitched, there isn’t much benefit to sending Sanchez to Seattle for the last 2-3 weeks of the regular season. Sanchez likely starts 2020 in AAA Tacoma.

Next. Mariners Bullpen shaping up in 2020. dark

So there you have it. Again, there are at least half a dozen relievers who could make this list, including Art Warren, Sam Delaplane, and Joey Gerber, but this list provides the most “exciting” names that could warrant a call up as soon as next week.

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