Who Should Be Brewers' September Call-Ups?

[Ray Stuedemann]

Image courtesy of Jon Endow-Imagn Images

The turn of the calendar to September is the last such flip in the major-league regular season. September contains the last chances at pushing to the playoffs for many teams (looking at you, American League Wild Card race), but for everyone, the rosters expanding allows teams to add two new players to their roster for the stretch run. The Brewers, sitting 6.5 games ahead of the Cubs for first place in the N.L. Central, have a few options they could add to the big-league club once September hits. Here’s a quick look at a couple of them.

Pitchers

Coleman Crow
Crow debuted with the Brewers earlier this season, appearing in 5 games to the tune of a 5.30 ERA (4.53 FIP) in 18 2/3 innings. He's appeared in 15 games for Nashville this season (starting 14 of them), earning an ERA of 3.13 with 79 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. Crow could provide some length for the Brewers, whether out of the bullpen or by giving the frontline starters an extra day of rest here and there.

Colton Gordon
Acquired in a trade with the Astros in July, Gordon has struggled in big-league action the past two seasons in Houston, pitching to a career 5.95 ERA (5.86 FIP) through 95 1/3 innings. After joining the Sounds, he's made 7 starts, pitching to a 4.82 ERA in 37 1/3 frames. Gordon is similar to Crow in what his role would be if called up, but he would give the Brewers another left-handed option,

Jared Koenig
Koenig is the most veteran Brewer on this list, pitching in each of the last three seasons for Milwaukee. He was very solid in 2025, earning a 2.86 ERA (3.35 FIP) in 66 innings. This season, his results have been worse due to a UCL injury in his left arm, pitching to a 9.00 ERA (6.37 FIP) in just 7 innings. While it doesn’t seem likely he would be called up, the Brewers could pick and choose their spots to utilize Koenig in September in hopes of getting him back on track.

Other pitching options include Brandon Sproat, Garrett Stallings, and JoJo Romero. Acquired from the Cardinals at the deadline along with Dustin May, Romero has been sidelined since before the trade due to an emergency appendectomy. He began a rehab assignment with the Timber Rattlers on Tuesday, so a return could be imminent, especially when the rosters expand.

Hitters

Bo Naylor
Naylor was acquired by the Brewers on August 1 from the Guardians, in a trade that sent Blake Perkins and Craig Yoho to Cleveland. Since then, Naylor has slashed .289/.365/.511 for Nashville in just 53 plate appearances. Naylor would be an interesting bench option, but realistically, he wouldn’t fit into the lineup often due to the solid play of both William Contreras and Gary Sánchez this season.

Brandon Lockridge
Lockridge was optioned to Nashville August 19, as the corresponding move for Cooper Pratt coming off the injured list. He’s appeared in 38 games this season, slashing .273/.345/.313 in 111 plate appearances. He wouldn’t provide a ton of power off the bench, with only 4 extra-base hits this year. However, he’s a good baserunner and a solid defender, making him a quality candidate for a bench outfield role in September.

Akil Baddoo
Baddoo signed a deal with the Brewers in December and has been in Nashville the whole year. He missed time earlier in the year with a left quad strain and has only appeared in 45 games, slashing .234/.337/.461 with 9 homers in 183 plate appearances. He’s another outfield option for Milwaukee, though he's probably behind Lockridge in the pecking order.

Other potential options worth noting: prospects Jeferson Quero, Luke Adams and Blake Burke, though with the depth of the current Brewers lineup it would most likely be a veteran position player called up who doesn’t need every day at-bats. 

With September right around the corner, the Brewers have several intriguing options to add depth for the final month of the regular season. While there are arguments for each player, I’d like to see Lockridge and Romero. Lockridge is a solid contact bat with good speed and defense, while Romero could be a late-inning option in September—though he could be added to the roster before it expands. September should be a time for the Brewers to keep the roster fresh while preparing for the postseason, and all these guys could find a way to contribute to wins down the stretch.

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What are your thoughts? Who would you like to see when the rosters expand?

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[Ro Mueller]

Luke Adams can do what Jesse Winker couldn’t: get_on_base.

[GAME05]

Crow to stretch out the rotation and JoJo Romero because we definitely need another bullpen arm.

[tmwiese55]

With no off days until I think the 10th and what just happened with May, could definitely see Crow getting a spot start early in the month then going right back down for a normal BP arm.  Unfortunately, the first games of the month are vs the Cubs so they might not want to use him for those unless the schedule for the other starters really warrants.  And/or, the lead gets stretched out even more this weekend reducing the importance. 

[Brian]

Brandon Lockridge was just an animal before his knee injury/laceration. 

https://www.milb.com/player/brandon-lockridge-663604

[Turning2]

Doesn't it pretty much go without saying that Romero will be the added pitcher? I would really like to see Adams to attempt to add some power, but it is probably going to be Lockridge.

An aside ... Isn't Adams in danger of getting plucked via Rule 5?

[tmwiese55]

Generally yes.  Also, Uribe is back any day now too and both could be back prior to Aug 1. So a whole bunch of shenanigans could happen between now and then especially if they attempt to use the last spot as a bit of rotating spot, try to use it for a spot start, or if they IL May too.

[BallFour]

If we didn't have so much pitching depth I would have been intrigued to see Cam Wagoner.

[Brian]

4 hours ago, BallFour said:

If we didn't have so much pitching depth I would have been intrigued to see Cam Wagoner.

Yes, he is intriguing but Cameron Wagoner has only pitched 8.1 inning in Nashville. He continues his return after injuries cost him two seasons 2024-25, but Wagoner is throwing 99 mph and has a 1.08 ERA. 

[OneangryBadger]

The Pitching answer is Jo Jo Romero. The position player they definitely shouldn’t call up an outfielder they have too many now. Bo Naylor wouldn’t be the worst because that would allow using the other C at 1b and DH to get more RH bats against LHP and give Big Will time off of C to rest while still playing since he hates to sit. Plus they get a chance to see if he can help next season 

[JohnBriggs12]

The hitter should be Naylor.  That would allow Murphy more flexibility to use Sanchez as a pinch hitter.  They've gotten into many situations where they've had to keep both catchers in a game in case one goes down.

[CheezWizHed]

16 hours ago, Turning2 said:

An aside ... Isn't Adams in danger of getting plucked via Rule 5?

He needs to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason to avoid it, but that isn't a Sept call-up decision.  Though the need to add him anyway makes it easier to justify adding him now. 

[CA John]

Eugenio Suarez would have been an interesting add in the hopes of catching lightening. However, I just saw he cleared waivers and is back w Reds

[ChapelHeel66]

9 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

The hitter should be Naylor.  That would allow Murphy more flexibility to use Sanchez as a pinch hitter.  They've gotten into many situations where they've had to keep both catchers in a game in case one goes down.

Problem is that Naylor, while hitting in AAA, has been one of the worst hitters in the majors the last few years.

[ChapelHeel66]

No Fischer?  The team lacks power and a legit third baseman (although apparently the manager is going to run Hamilton out there no matter what…regardless of how hot Ortiz is and Pratt having a hot game).

Meanwhile I keep seeing Adams’s name on callup lists.  His primary skill is getting hit by pitches, and he has no MLB position (projects to a below-average defensive 1b, and we are chock full of those).