MLB Expands Roster In September

Players Called To Big Leagues At End Of Minor League Season

Aug 24, 2009 John F. O'Connor

The Major League Baseball Roster expands from 25 players to 40 players after Sept. 1

In Major League Baseball, the coming of a Sept. 1 is a welcome site to managers, general managers and team officials in general.

On that day, teams can expand their rosters.

The 30 teams of the American and National League have to carry a maximum of 25 players on its roster during the first five months of the season.

But in September, the team roster is allowed to expand to up to 40 players.

No other professional sport has this kind of rule.

Team rosters for the most part, are set at a certain number for the entire season.

However, Major League Baseball has a minor league system.

One MLB team can have up to six minor league affiliates.

The big league teams have an operational 40-man roster year round with 25 on the big league team and the rest in the minor leagues, usually on the triple-A level.

MLB Expand Rosters When Minor League Season Ends

Not all minor league players get called up to the big leagues when the minor league seasons end after Labor Day weekend.

The big league teams generally take players who are already on the 40-man roster. Certain players are deemed ready for major league action and called up to see if they can handle the situation.

Some will be put into the starting lineup right away, usually for non-contending clubs.

Most will be used as relief pitcher, pinch hitters and pinch runners.

The bottom line for MLB managers in September is, they should not run out of players if they have to go to the bench, especially in an extra inning game.

Minor League Call-ups Not Eligible For Post-Season After Sept. 1

For the teams that make the playoffs, the 40-man roster reverts back to the 25-man roster of the regular season.

A manager and team officials must decide which players to put on the roster after every post-season series.

September call-ups without previous big league experience are usually not eligible for the post-season, unless there is an injury that forces the team’s hands.

Minor League Players Becomd World Series Heroes

It happened to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980 when minor league call up Marty Bystrom pitched in the post-season on the way to that team’s first world series championship.

Bystrom was not eligible for the playoffs, but an injury to a Phillies starting pitcher, Nino Espinoza, was left off the post-season roster. Bystrom had a not September and many questioned whether Espinoza was really hurt.

But the National League and MLB officials approved the move and Bystrom was successful.

The Yankees have their own September call-up World Series hero: Second baseball Brian Doyle, the 1978 World Series MVP.

Doyle took over for injured regular Willie Randolph before September and had a fantastic World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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