1. Nate Lowe, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Lowe should have never been sent down a few weeks ago, but he was because he had options and Ji-Man Choi did not. Now that is not an issue and I would expect Lowe to get more playing time than most other names on this list. He has an above-average hit tool and plus raw power. He is hitting .295 in 123 plate appearances for the Rays and made an immediate impact when he belted a two-run home run on Sunday -- his sixth as a major. He collected 40 extra-base hits including 16 home runs in his time with the Durham Bulls. Choi seems like a really cool dude to be around, but Lowe is the better player and should play as much as possible down the stretch with the chance to provide a solid average and a few home runs.
2. Gavin Lux, SS/2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Lux has the chance to make a greater impact than anyone on this list. The question is will he get the opportunity? The Dodgers have been vague with how they will use him. They have said he may be more of an apprentice than anything. After losing back-to-back World Series, I find it hard to believe they will go into the postseason without one of the 25 best players available to them. Add in Max Muncy's injury, and there could be more possibilities for playing time than the organization is leading on. He has the potential to impact four categories and may even steal a base or two along the way.
3. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros
Tucker finally gets a chance at redemption after a poor showing in his first, brief call up in 2018. He posted a 30/30 season for Triple-A Round Rock and is a steady defender across all the outfield positions. The Astros' lineup is stacked with veterans, as they are poised to make another run at a World Series title. Josh Reddick is hitting .210/.265/.268 without a home run. There is opportunity here for Tucker to break through and potentially find some playing time. If Tucker hits like he can, an already explosive lineup could have additional firepower. He can hit with power and run.
4. Nick Solak, IF, Texas Rangers
Technically not a September 1 call-up, I have included Solak because he is one of the few recently promoted prospects who figures to get regular playing time down the stretch. The Rangers have solved his defensive shortcomings by playing him mostly as a designated hitter, although he has started at both second and third base. The right-handed hitter is off to a fine start, as he entered play on Labor Day with a slash line of .333/.451/.524. He has collected five extra-base hits, including a long ball, and his early discipline stats are encouraging in the fact that they mirror his minor league numbers and would be palatable at any level. The Rangers are going nowhere fast, so as long as he hits Solak should play most days.
5. Ty France, IF, San Diego Padres
Another pre-September arrival, France had a tremendous minor league campaign in 2019. He hit .399/.477/.770 with 27 home runs and 27 doubles in 76 games for Triple-A El Paso. He has struggled in limited action with the Padres (.231/.283/.381) but could get regular action down the stretch. France is a versatile "defender" in the fact that he can play all three bases. With Fernando Tatis Jr. out for the season, and Luis Urias handling shortstop, France has the opportunity to play a lot of second base this month. He is relatively new to the keystone. That said, the position is just a place to get his bat in the lineup. He belted two home runs on Sunday and could hit several more over the next few weeks.
6. Sean Murphy, C, Oakland Athletics
Murphy is considered by many as the A's top position player prospect behind a pair of southpaw pitchers. Drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft, Murphy's defense has been show-ready for a while. He blocks and receives well and has a plus arm. If he never hits, he will still have a long career in the majors. There is a chance that will not be necessary because he has shown signs of offensive life. He was hitting well in Las Vegas -- as many do -- before a knee injury in May. I should mention that he has been injury prone, which is a concern going forward. However, he is healthy now and poised to make his debut. Josh Phegley has been a below-average hitter for the duration of his career and Chris Herrmann is even worse. Murphy could find himself in at least a timeshare for a really good team with a solid start to his big league career.
7. Anthony Banda, P, Tampa Bay Rays
Banda is back in the big leagues after missing most of this season and last due to Tommy John surgery. The left-hander returned to the mound in June and has spent the past six weeks or so with the Rays' Triple-A affiliate in Durham. The results -- a 6.04 ERA in 28 1/3 innings -- have not been great, but there are a few things to like. Banda is throwing a strike on 67% of his pitches and racked up 27 strikeouts. In his last outing, he gave up two runs in five innings while striking out six. He induced 13 whiffs in 67 pitches. Control has been good, but seven home runs and 28 hits suggest command is a little bit off. The Rays need any help they can get with regards to pitching. 70-80 pitches or so from Banda would make him the team's No. 4 starter and put him in line to potentially steal a few W's along the way.
8. Bryan Garcia, RP, Detroit Tigers
Garcia is the rare relief prospect, drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 draft after closing games for the University of Miami. He reached Triple-A a little over a year after being drafted and was poised to make his debut sometime in 2018. His arm had other ideas, and like Banda, he would spend most of 2018 and early 2019 on the mend from his own Tommy John surgery. Garcia made it back to Toledo in late May and has pitched well all season. In 41 1/3 innings, he has allowed just 30 hits while striking out 47. He is the prototypical two-pitch reliever with an upper-90s fastball and an above-average slider. Why is a relief pitcher on a bad team here? Because the Tigers do not have many back-end-of-the-bullpen types. After Joe Jimenez, Garcia may already be the next bet for a few saves the rest of the way.
9. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics
OK, so these next two pitchers have not been called up yet, but I suspect that they will, and they both have the chance to start some games over the final few weeks of the season, which makes them potential streamers. Luzardo is looking like a top prospect once again. Over the weekend, he struck out 10 batters in six innings while ramping his pitching count up to 93. He also flirted with 100 mph on the radar gun. The A's are right in the middle of a three-way battle with Cleveland and Tampa Bay for the American League wild cards. With A.J. Puk already helping in the bullpen, they will want all hands on deck, including Luzardo (who has innings left), as well as ...
10. James Kaprielian, SP, Oakland Athletics
I will be extremely happy when Kaprielian gets the call and makes his big league debut. The 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft has had anything but an easy road to the majors. He was on the radar for a call up as early as spring of 2016 -- and then came the injuries. Instead of making his debut that year, Kaprielian would not only miss the rest of the 2016 regular season after just 18 innings, but 2017 and 2018 entirely. He returned earlier this year and looks like he is finally ready for a shot. He made his Triple-A debut on Sunday, striking out six in four scoreless innings. He tossed a season-high 73 pitches in the outing. Obviously, he comes with tremendous risk, but considering what it took to get him back, the A's will likely want to reward both the player and the organization with a call up this month.