5 Blue Jays players that are most deserving of being September call-ups

Addison Barger

Like Horwitz, Addison Barger had a slow start to his season. Hampered by over a month on the IL with an elbow injury, the 23-year-old had a forgettable first half. He hit a meager .220 with a .645 OPS and only managed two home runs — not exactly the power display that the organization had been expecting.

Barger's second half has gone more to plan. In 22 games, he's hitting at a .282 clip with a .408 on-base. Most importantly, his power is back with a .541 slugging percentage, five long balls, seven doubles, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored since July 14.

On defense, Barger has spent most of his time on the left side of the infield this season, split between shortstop and third. Recently, he has been getting reps in the outfield, now with 11 games under his belt in right field. He certainly has the arm to play anywhere on the diamond.

After striking out at a 27.3 percent rate in the first half, the lefty has shown off his plate discipline in the second half. He's sporting a 15.5 percent strikeout rate and an even higher 17.5 percent walk rate, which bodes well for when he eventually makes his MLB debut.

Ernie Clement

Versatile infielder Ernie Clement should also be on the Blue Jays' radar for a September call-up. The former Cleveland fourth-round pick has already had three stints and 13 appearances with the big club this season, not to mention his 110 games of big league experience with the Guardians and Athletics.

While the 27-year-old has had limited opportunities in a Blue Jays uniform, mainly appearing as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner (plus one as a pitcher!) with only four starts, he has made the most of his chances. He's 4-for-8 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base this season.

Not only has he held his own as an end-of-the-roster player in the majors this year, but his performance in Triple-A could warrant another trip to Toronto. He has easily handled minor league pitching, posting a .349 batting average and .958 OPS in 57 games.

Clement picked up right where he left off after being returned to the Bisons to make room on the big league roster for Davis Schneider. He now has eight home runs, 14 doubles, 41 RBI, 50 runs scored and 10 steals with Buffalo.

NEXT: An outfielder who has spent plenty of time on the Jays' bench and a versatile defender who's a longshot to get a call

Nathan Lukes

Another player who has spent plenty of time on the Toronto bench this year, Nathan Lukes could be a comfortable choice for the Blue Jays to promote in September.

In his eighth season of professional ball, Lukes made his MLB debut earlier this year. He has 27 appearances and 15 starts spread over four separate stints with the Jays. With sporadic playing time, the 29-year-old has had difficulty getting much traction at the plate. Aside from a modest three-game hit streak in May, Lukes is hitting .200 in 29 plate appearances.

Luckily, the time in the majors hasn't affected his production when playing in Buffalo. Lukes has 10 doubles, 21 RBI and 21 runs to go along with a .333/.414/.564 slash line in 29 games.

Before his most recent call-up for the injured Kevin Kiermaier, he had put together a seven-game hit streak with the Bisons, hitting .394 with a 1.109 OPS. The streak included six multi-hit games, capped off by his fifth home run. Yes, Lukes is on the big league roster right now, but he's the clear choice to go down once Kiermaier returns from the injured list.

NEXT: A speedy utility player who is getting harder and harder to ignore down in Triple-A

Rafael Lantigua

Rafael Lantigua might be the perfect fit if the Blue Jays are looking for a versatile defender to add to their expanded roster. The 25-year-old has played all over the diamond in his first full season at Triple-A, including time at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions.

Listed at 5-foot-7, Lantigua is no slouch with the bat and can offer a little bit of everything at the plate. He's slashing .284/.416/.457 with nine long balls, 30 doubles, 55 RBI, 68 runs and 17 stolen bases through 94 games.

He isn't currently on the 40-man roster, so it's a longshot that Lantigua garners serious consideration for a call-up in September. His strong second half, however, may get his name in the conversation. In 21 games, he's hitting .313 and slugging at a .563 clip, with four home runs and 18 RBI.