Baseball's active rosters expanded to 40 on Tuesday, and we saw the first wave of call-ups, with more likely to come as minor league seasons and postseasons end in the next few weeks. Here's a look at five prospects called up Tuesday who are worth your attention:
Michael Brantley, CF, Cleveland: Brantley has great bat speed combined with outstanding bat control, which is how you can go 2,161 plate appearances in the minors with more walks (258) than strikeouts (190). He's also a plus runner and can play center field, although that position is occupied in Cleveland by
Grady Sizemore at the moment. Brantley has below-average power, so playing in an outfield corner might be a stretch, although I think he'll hit for enough average to make it work. If the Indians choose to shut Sizemore down at any point this month (he might have elbow surgery before year's end), they could give Brantley an extended trial in center.
Tyler Flowers, C, Chicago White Sox: Flowers is patient and hits for power, but he's rough behind the plate and probably will rack up the strikeouts in the majors. Trading Thome gives the White Sox the chance to get Flowers some at-bats this month without having to add to his catching workload for the season, allowing him to concentrate on hitting rather than forcing him to learn all the pitchers while he's trying to adjust to big league breaking balls. If he stays behind the plate long term, which I think he can, he's a very good prospect because of his offensive potential.
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Keith Law
