Even though it is the middle of May, we are getting to the point in the season where teams like the Twins, Braves, Reds, and Brewers are out of playoff contention. Sure, crazy things can happen where a team inches back to .500 and everything goes correctly prior to the trade deadline, but reality is that is not going to happen. Lost seasons at the major league level often times open up doors for younger players to get longer looks. We will see a lot more of that as the playoff field gets winnowed deeper into the season, but it’s worth pointing out several players that could get the call soon.

Tommy Joseph, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia)

If you remember the name Tommy Joseph it’s because he was the focal point of a big trade at one time. When the Phillies sent Hunter Pence to the Giants back in 2012, Joseph was the centerpiece of the deal. At the time of the deal, Joseph was a catcher, but has transitioned full time into a first baseman. It seems as though the rigors of catching most days took a toll on Joseph at the plate because since he’s played exclusively at first base, all he’s done is mash. Joseph is slashing .368/.391/.655 with six home runs at Triple-A. This is quite impressive for a guy that batted .193 over 175 plate appearances at the same level last season.

With Ryan Howard’s time in Philadelphia coming to an end at some point during the regular season or most definitely when the season concludes, the Phillies may give Joseph a long look at first base. He’s had issues with right-handed pitching in the past, but with the team being in total rebuild mode, he should have a relatively long leash when he finally gets an opportunity.

Jose Peraza, Louisville Bats (Cincinnati)

The Reds were mentioned above as a time that is basically out of playoff contention already. With a pitching staff that’s been pieced together due to injuries, Cincinnati just isn’t built to win right now. This could mean that the team attempts to move Brandon Phillips’ contract, as he becomes a free agent after the 2017 season. If that exact scenario—or an injury—took place, Peraza would be the immediate beneficiary. Peraza has been with three organizations in the last calendar year (Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cincinnati) as he’s been trade bait on two separate occasions.

With above average plate discipline and very good speed, Peraza could settle in as a top of the order hitter for the Reds down the line. An interesting note about Peraza’s contact is that he’s sending the ball the other way 47.6 percent of the time. He’s never going to hit for power, but it’s encouraging to see that he’s been scrappy at the plate over the first month of the season.

Peter O’Brien, Reno Aces (Arizona)

Much like Tommy Joseph, it appears as though Peter O’Brien’s catching days are in the rearview mirror. O’Brien spent the vast majority of the 2015 season at Triple-A Reno and slashed .284/.332/.551 with 26 homers and 107 RBIs over 490 at-bats. The Diamondbacks are 1.5 games out of first place at this point and with a wealth of talent at the major league level, O’Brien currently does not have a spot on the field at this point. Still, with 10 home runs in 29 games, it’s going to be hard for the D’Backs to keep him on the farm.

With A.J. Pollock out for the year and dealing with a sore wrist, there is a real chance that O’Brien’s window is about to open. If Peralta were to miss an extended period of time, Arizona’s starting outfield would consist of Yasmany Tomas, Chris Owings, and Brandon Drury. O’Brien would be an immediate offensive upgrade over Owings and would likely be able to garner everyday at-bats immediately. Adding O’Brien in NL-Only leagues would be a very wise move. If for some reason he’s floating around your waiver wire in dynasty leagues, he’d be quite an advantageous pickup for now and into the future.

Hunter Renfroe, El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego)

The Padres drafted Renfroe in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft and he’s made a steady ascension throughout the minors. He is batting .286 with five home runs at Triple-A El Paso while striking out at a 20.5 percent clip. Plate discipline has long been where Renfroe runs into trouble; though he has seen his strikeouts drop by about four percent since his 2014 stop in Double-A. The Padres are 15-20, but only 2.5 games out of first place. They’re likely to stay the course in the immediate future, but things will change quickly assuming things unravel. Renfroe is not a top prospect by any means, but he’s worth a stash in NL-Only leagues as San Diego is bound to call him up at some point given their average outfield.

Recent Call-ups

Daniel Norris, Tigers

The Tigers chose to elevate Norris to the majors even though he posted a 9.98 ERA over four starts at Triple-A. Clearly, Norris isn’t this bad, but outside of dynasty leagues, he can be avoided at this time.

Ian Krol, Braves

Krol is strictly a reliever, so outside of holds league he has very little value. It’s worth noting that he did hold lefties to a .136 average with 10 strikeouts, so there is a change he could develop into a setup man for Atlanta.