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

The dog days of summer are flying by. We're only three weeks from September and the final stretch run to the MLB postseason. That means we only have three weeks left to speculate and debate who the Toronto Blue Jays should call up when rosters expand on Sept. 1.

As a reminder, gone are the days of expanded rosters when teams could call up as many 40-man players as they liked to help with the final push to the playoffs. Now, rosters expand by just two players, from 26 to 28, with a limit of 14 pitchers.

As much as fans would love to see an exciting prospect like Ricky Tiedemann or Orelvis Martinez added to the big-league roster, it's unlikely (bordering on laughably inconceivable) that either gets a sniff of the majors this season. Tiedemann, easily the team's top prospect, just returned from the IL and has only thrown 21 1/3 innings this season. Meanwhile, the young slugger Martinez is just getting his feet wet with 20 games at Triple-A.

So, with securing a postseason spot in mind, which Blue Jays players deserve to get the call to join the big club in September?

Spencer Horwitz

Spencer Horwitz got his first shot at The Show earlier this season when he made his MLB debut and played in three games in June. He collected a couple of hits during that stint, but with such a small sample size, he didn't get a fair shake for serious evaluation.

The 25-year-old has put up impressive numbers in Triple-A this season, splitting time between first base and left field. He's slashing .330/.446/.490 with nine home runs, 65 RBI, 52 runs scored and eight stolen bases, although it's his recent performance that has him knocking on the door to the big club.

Horwitz has been terrorizing Triple-A pitching since getting hot in July and being named the International League Player of the Week. Through 21 games in the second half, his .455 batting average, monstrous 1.333 OPS and whopping 228 wRC+ are helping carry the Bisons' offense.

Outside of his hit tool and plate approach, Horwitz doesn't have a single standout tool to ride but is solid across the board. Notably, he has tapped into some power recently. Six of his nine home runs and 10 of his 26 doubles have come during this scorching 23-game stretch, helping him rack up 26 RBI and 19 runs.

With a higher walk rate (16.4 percent) than strikeout rate (15.7 percent), Horwitz's eye and discipline at the plate make him a candidate for finding some success at the big league level. If the Jays are looking for someone to come off the bench, provide quality at-bats and put the ball in play, Horwitz deserves another look.

NEXT: A young, promising slugging prospect and an experienced infielder who should get consideration

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.