3 Cleveland Guardians prospects who deserve September call-ups

As September hits, the Cleveland Guardians have plenty of opportunities to bolster their lineup for the final stretch run over the next three-plus weeks.

While they did that earlier this week by calling up George Valera, Jhonkensy Noel and Zak Kent as a part of the September roster expansion, there are still a couple ways they could manipulate their roster to give a spot (and some playing time) to some rookies in the systen.

While the Guardians are hanging out on the fringes of the postseason picture, they don't have a team that's capable of winning the World Series, so making those moves would allow them to thread the needle of building for the future while also putting a winning ballclub on the field in the present day.

From a recent No. 1 pick to an injury-ridden power hitter and a dynamic outfielder, here are three guys who deserve a chance to play at Progressive Field this year.

3 Cleveland Guardians prospects who deserve September call-ups

2B Travis Bazzana

The Guardians drafted Bazzana with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, and he's quickly risen the ranks to become the team's top prospect.

The 23-year-old started off his time with the club last season in High-A with the Lake County Captains. He played 27 games and slashed .238/.369/.396 for a respectable first year in the profesional ranks.

He started this season in Double-A and smashed 12 doubles, three triples and five home runs in 51 games, which helped him earn a promotion to Triple-A Columbus.

Although he's hit just .182 in Columbus, he has a gaudy .393 on-base percentage and has committed just one error across 16 games at second base.

While he is still getting used to Triple-A pitching, he still has shown an ability to get on base and put together a professional at-bat. The Guardians didn't draft Bazzana to keep him stewing in the minors, and a late season call-up could be beneficial to him much it was for Bo Naylor three years ago.

OF Chase DeLauter

Although injuries have once again been a part of DeLauter's story this year (he's currently on the injured list with Triple-A Columbus), he has too much talent to not be in the majors by the end of the year so long as he's healthy.

He's earned a call-up to the next level of the minor leagues during every season he's palyed in, and showed no sign of slowing down this year prior to getting injured.

In 34 games at Triple-A, DeLauter hit .278 with five home runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles and 22 walks — stats that are a tangible example of how he can impact a game.

His combination of size, athleticism and defensive arm makes him an ideal candidate to help fill one of the holes in the Guardians' outfield. They need a right-handed bat that has a bit of spark, and DeLauter can be that guy.

As the season comes to a close, it is becoming more apparent that Nolan Jones may have a long-term future in the outfield, so the Guardians should do everything in their power to give DeLauter a big league cameo.

OF Jaison Chourio

Jaison Chourio is very, very young.

The 20-year-old prospect started playing for the organization when he was just 17 in the Dominican Summer League, and he had 37 hits, seven doubles, three triples, one home run and 28 RBI in 40 games.

Fortunately for the Guardians, Chourio has been able to keep that production up in every level he's played in since.

In 2023 he played in 39 games across the Arizona Rookie Complex League and Single-A, where he complied a .321 batting average to go along with one home run, 28 RBI and 44 walks.

After spending all of last season in High-A, he got the promotion to Single-A this year and has hit .233 with two home runs and 23 RBI. He also has a .376 on-base percentage and has recorded 67 walks compared to just 84 strikeouts.

His ability to get on base and make an impression in the field and on the basepaths makes him an interesting candidate for a September call-up. The Guardians don't tend to be this agressive with their prospects (and it's not like he's tearing it up in High-A), but it's easy to imagine how he could make an impression with the Guardians this month.