Will Ramos, Hjelle get a September call-up with Giants?

SAN FRANCISCO -- When Gabe Kapler was hitting his way through the low minors in the late nineties, it was common practice for teams to bring some of their youngest prospects to the big leagues for a few days to let them get used to The Show. It was an early version of the taxi squad, except instead of being available to play in an emergency, prospects like Kapler simply got used to big league clubhouses, ballparks and hotels. 

Kapler fondly recalls that cameo in Detroit in September of 1997, and 25 years later, he still remembers how cool it was for a lifelong California native to experience the start of a fall in a cold-weather city. Before Tuesday's game at Oracle Park, he talked about seeing steam come out of manhole covers for the first time. 

"That's just like the movies," he thought back then.

The visit to Detroit served a purpose other than getting Kapler acclimated to cold weather. He had hit 19 homers in High-A ball and the Tigers wanted one of their most promising prospects to get a little extra motivation. Kapler said that time made him "a little hungrier."

The Giants now have an opportunity to do the same for some young players who may be part of Kapler's roster in 2023. It's September call-up time, and while the rules only allowed two additions before Friday's game against the Phillies, you can expect the Giants to churn their big league roster as they always do. 

The first two additions were position players, third baseman David Villar and outfielder Lewis Brinson. But others could be on the way as the Giants adjust their roster, potentially shut some injured veterans down, or even DFA players who are not in their future plans. Here's a look at some Triple-A players (Kyle Harrison isn't getting called up from Double-A, so don't ask) who may have a shot to play at Oracle Park over the next month: 

Jason Vosler

Nobody knows the road from San Francisco to Sacramento better than Vosler, who rode the option train last season, as well. He has had an odd 2022, struggling a bit in Triple-A but posting a .882 OPS in 23 big league games. Giants officials don't quite know what to make of it, because Vosler was excellent in Triple-A last year. 

Regardless, he's a versatile left-handed hitter who has kept a smile on his face through two years of moving from one hotel room to the next. If the Giants believe he's part of the 2023 mix in any way, they should reward his patience. 

Ford Proctor

The Giants currently have five catchers on their 40-man roster, plus Yermin Mercedes. Proctor is not a true catcher, but that's what's so intriguing. He has played all four infield spots and caught since being picked up from the Rays, and while he's hitting just .194, he does have 14 walks to 18 strikeouts (good for a .338 OBP) and has hit five homers

The Giants liked the bat when they acquired him and Kapler has talked a couple of times about how it would be nice to have a left-handed-hitting catcher. Proctor could be a fit as a versatile third option once Bart returns. 

Randy Rodriguez

When the 22-year-old right-hander was added to the 40-man last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, Farhan Zaidi noted that Rodriguez was not like Camilo Doval, Gregory Santos and Kervin Castro, the previous year's class. The Giants wanted to continue using him as a starter and they did in High-A, but Rodriguez moved to the bullpen in Double-A and has stayed there since a second promotion to Triple-A. 

It has been a struggle at the latest spot, with 11 walks in six Triple-A innings. But Rodriguez has good stuff -- 97 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings this year -- and should get a shot to be part of the big league bullpen next year at some point. Since he's already on the 40-man, it would be easy for the Giants to let him pitch once or twice in the big leagues late in the year. 

R.J. Dabovich or Cole Waites

It's probably one or the other here because neither is on the 40-man, and that actually makes both of them long shots. It wouldn't be all that difficult to find a spot in September when teams get looser with DFAs and 60-day-IL assignments, but the Giants likely don't want to add too many guys that they'll then have to carry on the 40-man throughout the offseason. 

Dabovich and Waites are hard throwers who both were recently promoted to Sacramento, with very different results. After dominating Double-A, Dabovich has struggled with his command in Triple-A; Waites has struck out five in three scoreless Triple-A appearances. It's too late for the Giants to fix their 2022 bullpen in time to make a difference, but both Dabovich and Waites should be in the 2023 mix. 

Yunior Marte

Marte has already made 27 appearances this year and Kapler mentioned him as a likely addition at some point in September, 

"He's done a great job for us and presents an interesting leverage option at some point in our bullpen and is a guy that has the stuff to be great going forward," Kapler said. 

Marte certainly looks the part. His fastball averages about 98 mph and has good spin, and he complements it with a hard slider. But he also has given up 36 hits and 26 runs in his 33 2/3 innings. The Giants almost certainly will give him another extended look here in September to see if he can put it together. 

Sean Hjelle

Hjelle has made 21 starts in Sacramento and three relief appearances for the Giants. With Sam Long on the IL, he's the likeliest option to provide length at the big league level, but the Giants might also add him as bullpen help. Given how many of their current starters are signed through next year, that's Hjelle's easiest path to a 2023 roster spot. 

RELATED: Villar, newly acquired Brinson get September Giants call-ups

Tristan Beck

Acquired in the Mark Melancon trade with the Braves three years ago, Beck has had a solid year in Triple-A. You can throw out the ERA in that league, but the strikeout and walk rates are promising and people who have seen the River Cats lately have come away impressed with the 26-year-old right-hander. The Giants have generally opted for bullpen games when there's an opening in the big league rotation, but Beck is a more traditional starting prospect and could be a depth piece for the rotation next season. 

Bryce Johnson 

When the Giants acquired Brinson, he immediately leapfrogged these next two guys. Johnson was brought up briefly at the start of the month as the Giants talked of getting better defensively, but he played in just four games and got just four plate appearances.

Johnson has had a solid year in Triple-A and deserved a more extended look than that. If the Giants are shuffling guys back and forth all month, it wouldn't be a bad idea to stick Johnson in Coors Field's massive outfield later this month and give the pitchers a little bit of help, and it would also be nice if the Giants gave him a real chance to get that first hit out of the way. Given what's coming this offseason, there's no guarantee he'll ever get a better shot than this. 

Heliot Ramos 

The former first-round pick had to wait just a few days at the start of the season to make his 2022 debut, but that early call-up has been one of the few highlights this year for the 22-year-old outfielder. 

Ramos is 2-for-13 in seven big league appearances and has a .643 OPS at Triple-A. It's been a disappointing season, but the Giants still believe in his talent and flew him to Denver at the start of the last road trip so he could work with the big league staff and make swing changes. That work should continue throughout September. 

As they aim to get younger and more athletic in 2023, Ramos will be in the mix. The Giants should let him spend a few weeks working with their best coaches and seeing more big league competition, and it would also give fans -- who have had a rough summer -- another reason to tune in. Ramos has a lot of things to work on, but he's athletic and exciting, and this roster could use more of both.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast