September is a busy month for Major League Baseball, whether it's the exciting call-ups or the start of a new postseason. The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers are on track to make another playoff appearance, and it wouldn't be surprising if manager A.J. Hinch and his staff used the next few weeks to assess the organization's prospect situation.
After all, veteran players often get some rest in September, which is the perfect time for the Tigers to audition prospects for future roles. While certain up-and-comers in Detroit's system deserve a big-league look, few prospects are more deserving than the following 25-year-old slugger.
Tigers Prospect Eduardo Valencia Deserves a Call-Up in September
Tigers fans have been excited to see what catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia can do ever since he signed with the franchise as an international free agent in 2018. The power-hitting Venezuelan has impressively ascended Detroit's prospect pipeline with each passing season, culminating in a 2025 performance that's too electric to ignore.
After beating the leather off most baseballs he saw with Double-A Erie to begin the campaign, Valencia was finally promoted to Triple-A Toledo in early July. He hasn't looked back since his promotion, slashing .309/.415/.593 across 123 at-bats in 36 games with the Mud Hens. He's amassed eight home runs, 39 RBIs, and 22 walks during that stretch, with his latest homer being a 417-foot three-run round-tripper against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Thursday night.
Between the two minor-league levels, Valencia now has 19 HRs, 79 RBIs, and a .918 OPS across 317 ABs in 89 games. Even though he's yet to play an MLB game, those stats indicate he's the type of hitter who could have a long-term future in the Motor City. The Tigers would be wise to see if his potential is legitimate or simply just smoke and mirrors, and September is the perfect opportunity for them to find out.
Valencia's ability to play first base or catcher (as well as designated hitter) gives Hinch & Co. options for various lineup combinations down the stretch. Even if it's only for a game or two, the promising prospect's versatility can be used to give Detroit's veterans a breather before the action ramps up in the postseason.
At the end of the day, the Tigers have nothing to lose. If Valencia still needs more time to cook, Toledo will always be there. But if not, and he ends up succeeding even half as well in the Majors as he did in the minors, Tigers fans might already have their first reason to look forward to the 2026 campaign.