With rosters expanding on September 1, major-league ball clubs have plenty of opportunities to affect the remainder of the season by calling up players to the 28-man roster. Plenty of top prospects have been awaiting their call-up to the majors, and could very well make strides toward realizing their dream of playing in the big leagues. Of that crop, three have been announced thus far for contending teams. These three could find themselves directly affecting these organizations’ playoff aspirations despite their youth and relative inexperience. It’s an incredibly potent event that comes with a multitude of possibilities for the young stars. How might they affect their clubs?
BJ Murray Jr., Chicago Cubs No. 19 prospect
3Mar 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman BJ Murray against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Murray, if nothing else, adds some additional depth to the Cubs‘ infield crop. Their lineup has been mashing lately, so there won’t be any pressure on Murray to immediately produce. The infielder will be just the second Bahamian player to join the big-league Cubs team following Andre Rodgers from 1961-64. Murray was selected in the 15th round of the 2021 draft by Chicago and has blossomed since then. Murray also suited up for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic in both 2023 and 2026.
In 118 games this year, the corner infielder posted a .294/.395/.500 slash line. Murray showcased some massive pop (not that Chicago needs it after slugging out nine home runs on Monday night), hitting 16 homers, 24 doubles and nine triples. His plate discipline is solid, with Murray drawing 69 walks and striking out 110 times. That said, his biggest attribute is his ability to hit from both sides of the plate with nearly identical splits against lefties and righties. Against left-handers, Murray has a .398 OBP and .500 SLG. Versus right-handers those numbers change only slightly to a .395 OBP and .501 SLG. Murray has also spent some time in the outfield and will likely be used in a utility role during the stretch run.
Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres No. 1 prospect (No. 23 overall)
3Feb 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas (90) bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Padres are fighting for their lives in the National League Wild Card race, and now they have one of their top prospects coming up to help them duke it out with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Salas’ call-up is a momentous occasion for San Diego. It’s also one that may never have happened given General Manager A.J. Preller’s propensity to wheel-and-deal prospects. Through it all, Preller has held onto Salas. He was a top prospect when he first arrived in San Diego’s organization but quickly fell from grace after a season-ending back injury in 2025.
He came back this season with a vengeance, quickly earning a promotion to Triple-A, where he raked. Since his promotion on July 29, Salas has slashed .326/.410/.539 with three home runs. He’s also walked more times (14) than he’s struck out (10) in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. It’s worth wondering if that last bit has affected his numbers too much. It’s certainly a possibility, though Salas’ potential is undeniable even if his stat line wasn’t as good as it has been. He’ll easily slot into the Padres’ lineup behind the dish or as a designated hitter.
Lazaro Montes, Seattle Mariners No. 5 prospect (No. 56 overall)
3Feb 20, 2025; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes poses for a portrait during media day at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This is the sole member of this list where you have to squint a little to see that Seattle is a contender. Despite losing five consecutive games, the Mariners are just six games back in their division. They’re also only five and a half games back in the AL Wild Card race. If the M’s can heat up in the final month of the season, they could take advantage of a seriously weak American League and sneak into the postseason. Montes will be around to play his part during that run. This season, he’s slashed .249/.369/.558, though that is hard to understand from just viewing the numbers. A helpful comparison is Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Kyle Schwarber, who has slashed .243/.359/.524 this season.
The 21-year-old outfielder ranks second in the minor leagues with 38 home runs through 123 games this season. His 63 extra-base hits are tied for fourth in the minors as well. But that power is not limited to just this season. Montes has shown consistent pop in his professional career, leading the minors in home runs since 2024 (91). He’s a pure power hitter through and through, and Seattle is banking on exactly that to shine through. Montes has the ability to impact this Mariners team in a big way, reversing their fortunes and returning them to the postseason after a woeful regular season thus far.