Top Prospects Who Can Help Contenders Make Their Playoff Push
With contenders gearing up for a playoff push, we have already seen a few top 100 prospects promoted to bolster team's rosters. Who could be next?
As the 2025 MLB season draws closer and closer towards the playoffs, every single roster move carries extra weight. The margin of error for competing teams is already extremely narrow, especially when top prospects are added to the mix.
Usually, these competing teams are front-loaded with stars who are all expected to perform and have dealt with this pressure before. However, several top prospects could soon find themselves right in the midst of a playoff push as there is no trade or free agent market to bolster rosters at this stage of the season.
Instead, teams have to look internal if they want to improve their roster. Which means giving every close to the big league top prospect a good hard look, trying to see if there may be a missing piece waiting on the farm.
For the teams looking for an extra boost that they didn’t exactly find at the trade deadline, these last-minute additions of top prospects could do wonders for their playoff odds. This season, there are plenty of players who could be in the mix. And a few who were already added to the fold.
Who are some of these players? What type of impact could they have? Let’s take a closer look and attempt to answer these questions as we move towards the end of the season.
Of the list of prospects we are going to review today, all but one is also featured within our top 100. You can find where they rank on our top 100 next to their name below, with a link to Aram Leighton’s scouting report on each player, so you can learn more about the next bright stars who could soon reach the big leagues.
Top MLB Prospects Who Were Just Promoted
SP Nolan McLean – New York Mets (JB No. 42)
During the past couple of seasons, the New York Mets have slowly built one of the best farm systems in the sport. It was headlined by its pitching, and one of these key arms, Nolan McLean, could have a tremendous impact for the Mets this fall.
After pitching to an ERA under 2.50 with good strikeout numbers this season at Triple-A, the Mets decided it was time for McLean to make his debut. Since arriving in the big leagues, he’s been electric, showcasing elite breaking balls and posting an ERA of 0.89 through his first three starts.
This included a masterpiece against the Phillies last night, where he was sitting at 55 pitches through six innings, in which he faced the minimum of 18 batters. His night would end 40 pitches later, after he finished off eight shutout innings to lead the Mets to sweep their top division rival.
The Mets have posted a team ERA over 5.00 since the trade deadline, making this type of performance valuable down the stretch. The Mets are currently 4.5 games up in the Wild Card race and are fighting for a chance at the division, now just four games back.
If they take home the Division Title, McLean will be a key reason.
OF Owen Caissie – Chicago Cubs (JB No. 41)
Leading up to this year’s trade deadline, Cubs outfielder Owen Caissie was one of the hottest names in the sport, as he was tearing up Triple-A pitching with nowhere to play in the big leagues. The Cubs elected to keep Caissie, and it’s looking like the right choice as they move towards a playoff push.
With Kyle Tucker’s injury significantly hurting his offensive production, the Cubs’ offense has fallen flat. They currently rank 29th in the sport in wRC+ since the deadline, showing their desperate need for offensive help.
With Caissie blasting over 20 homers in Triple-A and playing well through his first 20 plate appearances, we could see him become an integral part of this offense as they move closer to October.
SP Jonah Tong – New York Mets (JB No. 47)
If you thought the Mets’ pitching core stopped at McLean, you’d be forgetting about Jonah Tong. Tong has been incredible this season in the minors, as he has a legitimate chance to be named Minor League Pitcher of the Year at season’s end.
After striking out 162 batters in just over 100 innings of 1.59 ERA baseball in Double-A, the Mets promoted Tong to Triple-A. He dominated his first two starts, allowing zero runs in nearly 12 innings. Following this, the Mets have just promoted Tong to the big leagues.
Circling back to the Mets’ pitching staff struggling to find consistent success since deadline day, having Tong join this staff could be game-changing for the club down the stretch. With how good he has been this season, Tong could be electric once October comes around.
Top Prospects Knocking on the Door
SS Kevin McGonigle – Detroit Tigers (JB No. 1)
While the Detroit Tigers are among the best teams in baseball, they are also an even 19-19 since the All-Star Break and are tied for the lowest fWAR of any team in baseball at the shortstop position. Insert the top prospect in baseball.
Javier Baez has had a resurgence this year, but has actually been better in center field and has played there more lately. McGonigle is still in Double-A, but has proven himself to be an incredible prospect and the idea of him in this Detroit lineup is tantalizing.
Since reaching Double-A in July, he has a .985 OPS and 180 wRC+ while walking 6% more often that he has struck out. Between the elite plate approach, increased impact, and clear ability to play shortstop at a high level, McGonigle is just about ready.
It would be an aggressive decision to call upon the recently-turned 21-year-old drafted out of high school in 2023, but one that Tigers have to at least consider. This team is ready to compete for a World Series, and their top prospect could be the final piece of the puzzle.
2B Travis Bazzana – Cleveland Guardians (JB No. 39)
The Cleveland Guardians knew they had a fast-moving star on their hands when they selected Travis Bazzana with the first overall pick in last year’s draft. However, they didn’t anticipate an oblique injury that would hold him back for a large chunk of this season. Against all odds, though, Bazzana has a real shot to make an impact down the stretch for the Guardians.
After returning from his oblique injury, Bazzana was quickly promoted to Triple-A, where he’s found his footing without much time to adjust. In his first 11 games, Bazzana has slashed .243/.472/.351 with a 142 wRC+, showing his value at the plate.
As of August 26th, the Cleveland Guardians have posted an MLB-worst wRC+ of 65 since the trade deadline. With the club just 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot despite their poor performance at the plate, this offensive boost could be massive for their playoff chances.
C/DH Carter Jensen – Kansas City Royals (JB No. 35)
Over the last few seasons, the Kansas City Royals have quietly built one of the best minor league catcher duos in Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen. Recently, it’s been Jensen who has really broken out, as he’s been hitting tremendously at Triple-A.
After earning his Triple-A promotion earlier this season, Jensen has hit very well. In 38 games at the level, he’s slashed .272/.389/.596 with a 151 wRC+. Jensen has also slugged an astounding 11 homers in this span, showcasing a new level of offensive production.
The Royals currently rank inside the top ten in most offensive categories since the trade deadline, but they could always use another key contributor in their lineup. At just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, Jensen could have a huge impact on their playoff push.
OF Justin Crawford – Philadelphia Phillies
Since he was selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Phillies, Justin Crawford has had some serious questions surrounding his offensive profile. With little power and a speed-first approach, many weren’t sure what to expect.
However, the 21-year-old has been excellent in Triple-A, and he may find himself in the middle of an electric playoff push. In 105 Triple-A games, Crawford has slashed .328/.406/.439 with a 128 wRC+, while even posting better power numbers in the process.
There’s no denying that one of the best environments playoff baseball has to offer is in Philadelphia, and if he keeps hitting like this, Crawford may find himself here before too much longer.
SP Brandon Sproat – New York Mets (JB No. 88)
Nolan McLean isn’t the only arm the Mets have slowly developed over the past few seasons, as right-hander Brandon Sproat is nearing his big league debut. Sproat’s rise to the top of prospect rankings was a fast one, as he showcased multiple potential 60-grade offerings in the lower minors.
However, since reaching Triple-A, Sproat has run into some trouble. He’s posted a 4.50 ERA this season across 114 innings, with his walk rates and strikeout rates both taking a step in the wrong direction. Despite this, his raw stuff remains off the charts.
The Mets have recently experimented with giving him some time in the bullpen in case that’s a role the club needs him to take on in the future. If so, Sproat could be a truly dominant reliever down the stretch for the club.
3B Sal Stewart – Cincinnati Reds (JB No. 59)
So far this season, the Cincinnati Reds have been a very solid team, and they find themselves just 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Throughout this wild ride, the team has had one of the most underrated prospects in the sport, Sal Stewart, marinating in their system.
Across two levels this season, Stewart has slugged 20 homers, slashed .311/.383/.526 with a 152 wRC+. Stewart has produced elite offensive metrics everywhere he’s played this season, and he’s become quite the valuable asset in the process.
The Reds’ offense has done well since deadline day, as they possess the fifth-best wRC+ in baseball in that span. However, if they’re looking for that one final boost to help them down the stretch, Stewart could be exactly what they’re looking for.
C/DH Jeferson Quero – Milwaukee Brewers (JB No. 46)
Over the past few seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers have been patiently waiting for their star catching prospect, Jeferson Quero, to return to the field healthy. He’s recently done this, and Quero has played exactly like someone who could help the best team in the sport down the stretch.
In 42 Triple-A games this season, Quero has slashed .285/.356/.462 with five homers and a 117 wRC+, as he’s been really solid overall. The right-handed catcher is still just 22 years old as well, making him an even more interesting prospect.
The Milwaukee Brewers have built one of the most fun young cores in the sport, as they’ve hit well and found ways to win all season long. What better way to boost this team than to add one of the best catching prospects in the sport to this lineup?
Honorable Mention: 1B Bryce Eldridge – San Francisco Giants (JB No. 16)
Although his path to helping his team might not be as clear as some of the other players in this story, the San Francisco Giants could really benefit from their top prospect making his way into the big leagues.
Bryce Eldridge has had his moments since being promoted to Triple-A earlier this season. In 49 games, the 20-year-old has slashed .232/.303/.497 with 14 homers and a 96 wRC+. He’s had stretches where it seemed impossible for him to get out, which has gotten fans excited about his ceiling.
The Giants have simply been one of the worst teams in the sport during the second half of the season, as they’ve gone from division contenders to 7.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in no time. Because of this, they might be more hesitant to move Eldridge along. If they aren’t, however, he should immediately make an impact.
Written by
Jay Staph, a huge baseball fan and stat nerd, founded and ran his own baseball writing website, BSBWrites, at just 16-years-old. With focal points around prospects,…