Inbox: Do Tigers have September callups plan?

Beat reporter Jason Beck answers questions from fans

August 27th, 2018
Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire smiles before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Detroit, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Paul Sancya/AP

Let's empty the Tigers mailbag again to take care of leftover questions from last week.
From September callups to a look at the farm system, here's what's on fans' minds.

I think Detroit will call up a fair number of players once the Minor League seasons end on Labor Day. Manager Ron Gardenhire has been counting down the days until he can get pitching depth to cover the innings the Tigers have needed out of the bullpen. So I'd expect to see and Johnny Barbato, and maybe and .
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As far as prospects, the list is limited, mainly because of the 40-man roster and the fact that so few of Detroit's Top 30 list guys are on the doorstep. Baez (No. 24) qualifies at this point. So does infielder (No. 14), who seems like a pretty safe bet to make the jump, at least for infield depth. Christin Stewart (No. 6) isn't on the 40-man roster, but there's an increasing sense that he'll get the call to give him a taste of big league pitching before he heads to Spring Training next year to try to compete for a job.

Unless aggravates an injury or has a new one, he's likely to make it back for September. His four-inning rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday was pretty encouraging, with one run on three hits and four strikeouts over 72 pitches. The Tigers would like Norris to close the season on a high note and head into the offseason with some confidence that he can pitch healthy going into what will be a critical Spring Training for him next year. Plus, a September stint would give Gardenhire a chance to look at Norris in a bullpen or swing role and see where he fits best long-term.

Maybe more than you might think. I think has cemented himself in the long-term picture, and looks like the closer of the future despite his second-half struggles. has the stuff to stick in there as well if he can command the strike zone. still has a chance to carve out a long-term role. Matthew Boyd has gone a long way toward putting him in the rotation for the next few years while their highly touted top prospects develop. might yet play out his arbitration years in Detroit if the Tigers don't like what teams are offering for him. And for all of Norris' ups and downs, he's just 25 years old.

Projecting prospects is always difficult, because development isn't always linear and injuries happen, especially among pitchers. The way Daz Cameron and Matt Manning have progressed this season at ages 21 and 20, however, certainly hint at a ton of potential. Cameron was at low Class A ball at the end of last season, and he is now at Triple-A Toledo. Manning will get a couple of starts at Double-A Erie after opening this season at Class A West Michigan. And while Beau Burrows' numbers have varied wildly from start to start, I think believe he has the stuff to play a big role in Detroit's rotation of the future.