This Wednesday is the day many teams will call up some of their top prospects to give them the annual "cup-of-coffee", and fantasy owners will be watching the waiver wire like a hawk to see who gets called up.
Here is a list of players that I think will be called up this week, and may help fantasy owners looking to replace underperforming major leaguers:
Hitters
Freddie Freeman, ATL- Freeman will more than likely be the Braves starting first baseman in 2011, and all he had done in his first full year at AAA, as a 20 year old, is hit .319-.379-.523 with 18 HRs and 87 RBI. He has also stolen 6 bases in 8 attempts. Yes, he's only 20 years old.
Justin Smoak, SEA-Smoak should get the call up by the Mariners even though he has struggled a bit at AAA Tacoma hitting .250-.375-.462 with 6 HRs and 18 RBIs.
Dustin Ackley, SEA-Ackley has proved he can adjust to AA and AAA pitching this year after Seattle's decision to start him at AA and move him to second base. He is hitting .271-.335-.429 with 4 HRs and 16 RBIs in 177 at bats at AAA Tacoma. For the season, he is hitting .266-.369-.401 with 6 HRs, 41 RBIs and 9 SBs with an excellent 71-71 K/BB rate.
Brandon Allen, ARI-Allen had the Diamondbacks starting first base job until the team went out and signed Adam Laroche last offseason. He strikes out alot, but has plenty of power. This season he is hitting .259-.404-.532 with 25 HRs, 84 RBIs and 14 SBs. He has a solid 94-82 K/BB rate, so it appears he has improved his K% and his BB% in AAA.
Desmond Jennings, TB-I am not sure if he will get much playing time as the Rays are battling for the AL East title, but Jennings should get a call up, and provide some speed off the bench. At AAA Durham, Jennings is hitting .278-.363-.395 with 3 HRs, 36 RBIs and 37 SBs.
Jesus Montero, NYY-Montero is probably the best hitting prospect in the minors right now, but he struggled earlier this year at AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. To date, he is hitting .288-.357-.504 with 18 HRs and 65 RBIs in 417 at bats as a 20 year old in AAA, which is very young for a hitter at AAA. He should see some at bats as the Yankees DH in September at some point.
Mike Moustakas, KC-Moustakas has broken out this season earning him a promotion to AAA. In 189 AAA at bats, he is hitting .286-.307-.513 with 10 HRs and 32 RBIs. For the season, he is hitting .321-.370-.614 with 31 HRs and 108 RBIs. On Monday night, he may have helped the Royals front office with the decision, as he went 4-6 with 3 HRs and 11 RBIs. Yes he had a great week on Monday night. He should be the Royals third baseman to start 2011.
Trayvon Robinson, LAD-Now that Manny Ramirez has been traded to the White Sox, the Dodgers should do right by their fans and call up Trayvon Robinson to see if he is ready to man left field (or centerfield) in 2011. Robinson had a break out year at High A Inland Empire in 2009, and has followed that up with a better 2010 at AA Chattanooga. He is hitting .300-.404-.438 with 9 HRS, 57 RBIs and 38 SBs. ESPN's Keith Law tweeted today that Trayvon will be in his Top 100 for 2011, and stated that the power will come.
Brandon Belt, SFG-If there was ever a minor league hitter worthy of a September call-up, it is Belt. All he has done this season is hit .354-.456-.612 with 20 HRs, 103 RBIs and 20 SBs at 3 levels in the minors. But, the Giants have decided to not call him up this season. He should be up by June 2011.
Mat Gamel, MIL-he may no longer be a top prospect, but Gamel should get the call up this week, especially with the rumors that the team will deal Prince Fielder this offseason to shore up their pitching staff. Gamel has battled some injuries this season, but is hitting .307-.392-.501 with 14 HRs and 74 RBIs. The Brewers would do themselves some good by giving Gamel some time at first base in September.