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Most anticipated 2017 second half call-ups in MLB
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Most anticipated 2017 second half call-ups in MLB

The MLB stretch run brings plenty of anticipated promotions for teams in contention and teams that are rebuilding. The following 25 player are some of the most highly anticipated call-ups.

 
1 of 25

Willy Adames, SS, Rays

Willy Adames, SS, Rays
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Tampa Bay has significant middle infield depth after acquiring Adeiny Hechavarria and getting Brad Miller back from injury, but Adames is another potential spark. The shortstop is hitting .282 with seven steals and an impressive .369 on-base percentage in 80 games at Triple-A Durham.

 
2 of 25

Chance Adams, SP, Yankees

Chance Adams, SP, Yankees
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Adams has never had any struggles in the minors since being drafted in the fifth round in 2015 out of Dallas Baptist University. He's 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts between Double- and Triple-A this season, and could provide a spark late in the season for the Yanks.

 
3 of 25

Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves

Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Brandon Phillips has been a fine placeholder for Albies this season, but the 20-year-old prospect is nearly ready. He's hitting .282-7-37 with 21 stolen bases in 78 games against older competition at Triple-A Gwinnett.

 
4 of 25

Harrison Bader, OF, Cardinals

Harrison Bader, OF, Cardinals
Scott Rovak / USA Today Sports Images

St. Louis has received inconsistent player out of their entire outfield this season. Bader is a potential solution, hitting .301-17-43 in 334 plate appearances at Triple-A Memphis. The former third-round pick hit 19 home runs last season.

 
5 of 25

Willie Calhoun, 2B, Dodgers

Willie Calhoun, 2B, Dodgers
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

LA doesn't have anywhere for Calhoun to play, but he could still provide a potential power boost. He's hitting .301-19-58 in 79 games at hitter-friendly Triple-A Oklahoma City after hitting 27 home runs at Double-A Tulsa last season.

 
6 of 25

Dylan Cozens, OF, Phillies

Dylan Cozens, OF, Phillies
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Cozens hit 40 home runs at Double-A Reading last year, and he's shown similar player at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season with 21 home runs in 85 games. Strikeouts are a major concern for the 6-6 outfielder, as he's fanned 110 times in 85 games.

 
7 of 25

Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox

Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Third base has been a black hole for the Red Sox this season, with no viable answer. Devers is clearly the long-term solution, and he could get an opportunity down the stretch as the Red Sox try to make the playoffs. He's hitting .300-18-56 with a .944 OPS at age 20 for Double-A Portland.

 
8 of 25

Tom Eshelman, SP, Phillies

Tom Eshelman, SP, Phillies
Cliff Welch / Baseball America

Eshelman has really helped himself with a great year between Double- and Triple-A, going 10-2 with a 2.27 ERA and only 14 walks in 107 innings. While he profiles as just a fifth starter, Eshelman has the polish to help a needy Phillies squad immediately.

 
9 of 25

Jack Flaherty, SP, Cardinals

Jack Flaherty, SP, Cardinals
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Flaherty has been one of the biggest stories of the minor league season. He's 8-3 with a 2.30 ERA and more than one strikeout per inning in 94 innings between Double- and Triple-A. Alongside Luke Weaver and Alex Reyes, the long-term future of the Cardinals rotation looks terrific.

 
10 of 25

Stephen Gonsalves, SP, Twins

Stephen Gonsalves, SP, Twins
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Gonsalves' season got off to a late start due to shoulder soreness, but he's made up for lost time. The lefty is 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA in nine starts. His impressive 6.20 K/BB ratio shows his great polish.

 
11 of 25

Zach Granite, OF, Twins

Zach Granite, OF, Twins
Jordan Johnson / USA Today Sports Images

Granite looked like a potential fifth outfielder coming into this season, but his great play at Triple-A Rochester shows potential for much more. He's hitting a league-high .361, adding 18 stolen bases in 64 games. Granite is a contact hitter with great leadoff skills, showing a 22/27 BB/K this season.

 
12 of 25

Brent Honeywell, SP, Rays

Brent Honeywell, SP, Rays
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

It hasn't been a flawless year for Honeywell, who sports a 4.19 ERA between Double- and Triple-A, but he remains an elite pitching prospect. He continues to flash great control and has a dominant 11.6 K/9.

 
13 of 25

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Hoskins continues to increase his stock in the minors with elite stats. He's hitting .289-20-66 in 88 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Hoskins has also made huge progress with his plate discipline, posting a 47/53 BB/K. It seems likely Hoskins will start at first base over Tommy Joseph in the future. 

 
14 of 25

Carson Kelly, C, Cardinals

Carson Kelly, C, Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

A converted third baseman, Kelly has developed well behind the plate and can hold his own with the bat. Kelly is hitting .281-8-36 with an .815 OPS at Triple-A Memphis this season. Yadier Molina's contract extension clouds his status with the Cardinals organization, but Kelly should be up later in the year, regardless.

 
15 of 25

Scott Kingery, 2B, Phillies

Scott Kingery, 2B, Phillies
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

A former second-round pick, Kingery has been one of the biggest breakouts of the 2017 minor league season. He's hitting .312-22-52 with 23 stolen bases in only 81 games between Double- and Triple-A. The skillset is starting to resemble a former Phillies second baseman, Chase Utley.

 
16 of 25

Tyler Mahle, SP, Reds

Tyler Mahle, SP, Reds
MiLB.com

Arguably the best performing pitcher in the minors this season, Mahle has a 1.62 ERA in 98 innings between Double- and Triple-A this season. He's taken his great control to another level, allowing only 1.7 BB/9 and a dominant 9.4 K/9.

 
17 of 25

Ryan McMahon, 1B, Rockies

Ryan McMahon, 1B, Rockies
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

A 2013 second-round pick out of high school, McMahon has rebounded from a sub-par 2016 season to emerge as a top prospect again. He's hitting .353-14-61 with 11 steals in 81 games between Double- and Triple-A. Drafted as a third baseman, McMahon has played first base and second base, as well.

 
18 of 25

Austin Meadows, OF, Pirates

Austin Meadows, OF, Pirates
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

It's been a forgettable year for Meadows, who is currently out with a hamstring injury. The former first-round pick was hitting just .248-4-35 at Triple-A Indianapolis before his injury, but he could still get a look in September.

 
19 of 25

Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox

Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

The best prospect in baseball, Moncada is hitting .278-11-32 with 16 steals in 72 games at Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox would like to see Moncada lower his strikeout rate, with 92 strikeouts this season, but his promotion to the majors is inevitable for a team that will be sellers at the trade deadline.

 
20 of 25

Tyler O'Neill, OF, Mariners

Tyler O'Neill, OF, Mariners
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Seattle has been happy to see breakout years from Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger in the majors, and O'Neill could complete an impressive long-term outfield. O'Neill's strikeout rate has comeback to bite him at Triple-A Tacoma this season, fanning 97 times in 352 plate appearances and hitting just .238, but O'Neill has 14 home runs and nine stolen bases. He hit 32 homers in 2015 and 24 home runs last season at lower levels.

 
21 of 25

Amed Rosario, SS, Mets

Amed Rosario, SS, Mets
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Mets fans have been screaming for Rosario's arrival, and it should finally come soon. He's an excellent leadoff prospect, hitting .327-7-52 with 16 stolen bases at hitter-friendly Triple-A Las Vegas this season. Rosario hit .324 between High-A and Double-A last season.

 
22 of 25

Lucas Sims, SP, Braves

Lucas Sims, SP, Braves
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Sims sometimes gets lost in a farm system loaded with pitching, but the 2012 first-round pick is certainly notable. He's rebounded from struggles at Triple-A last season, posting a 3.98 ERA and more than one strikeout per inning in 17 starts at Gwinnett. His struggles keeping the ball in the park are a concern.

 
23 of 25

Chance Sisco, C, Orioles

Chance Sisco, C, Orioles
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

The Orioles added Welington Castillo as a placeholder for Sisco this year, but it will soon be Sisco's time. He's hitting .276-3-31 in 66 games at Triple-A Norfolk. With Castillo's pending free agency, Sisco will likely find some starts down the stretch.

 
24 of 25

Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets

Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

The Mets are nearly in 2018 mode, and Smith is likely to be their Opening Day first baseman. The former first-round pick is hitting a robust .330-12-58 in 87 games at hitter-friendly Triple-A Las Vegas, while current regular first baseman Lucas Duda could be moved at the trade deadline.

 
25 of 25

Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers

Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Verdugo will have a tough time finding playing time on a loaded LA roster, but he's an interesting prospect. He's become an on-base machine at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, hitting .346-3-42 with 35/32 BB/K in 79 games, good for a .416 on-base percentage.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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