One September callup we want for each MLB team

Miami Marlins: Brian Anderson

Led by Giancarlo Stanton’s second-half rampage, the Marlins have emerged as fringe contenders for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. With the Rockies beginning to come unglued, don’t rule the red-hot Marlins out of it entirely. Pitching is the team’s obvious weakness, but there are limited options to be called up from the minor leagues.

Third base is another position of weakness for the Marlins, and losing Martin Prado to a knee injury has not helped the cause at the hot corner. Derek Dietrich has been passable in close to 400 plate appearances, but is not a long-term answer at the position. With the Marlins likely to shop second baseman Dee Gordon and Prado this winter, now is the time to get an extended look at Brian Anderson, a potential starter at third base next season.

Anderson was a third-round pick out of Arkansas in 2014 and has improved each season after struggling out of the gate in his pro career. He is getting his first taste of Triple-A this year and is hitting .336/.407/.607 in 30 games with five doubles and eight home runs. This is a level of power Anderson had not showed at any point earlier in his career.

After a strong stint in the Arizona Fall League last year, Anderson put himself firmly on the Marlins radar. He has a strong arm at third base and profiles as an above-average defender at the position. He has always shown a plus approach at the plate and good contact skills. The power is finally coming around, and he has made himself into a legitimate 20-homer threat (whatever that means in this juiced-ball era) at the MLB level.