NL Central

It looks like Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect Billy Hamilton isn’t going to waste your time.

Hamilton entered tonight’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning as a pinch runner and it only took one pitch before Hamilton tested possibly the best arm in the game.

After a few years of stealing every base imaginable in the minor leagues, Billy Hamilton finally stole his first in the big leagues on Tuesday.

As minor league seasons end and the major leagues hit the final stretch, teams start calling up their top prospects for their first taste of life in the big leagues. It is a time to see major league pitching, get adjusted to speed of the game and shake off the awe of being a major league ballplayer.

September 1 marks the time when teams can have 40 players on the active roster.

A time that usually brings excitements to fans across the board. 

The 2013 MLB season hasn't gone the way the Cincinnati Reds had hoped, but there are still many reasons for fans to watch the team in September.

Cincinnati is in position to make the postseason for the third time in four seasons. Whether it wins the division or snags a Wild Card has yet to be determined.

The Minnesota Twins have traded veteran first baseman Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Alex Presley and a player to be named later or cash, the Pirates announced on Twitter.

Most of us had already suspected that this was going to be a rough season for the Cubs. In fact, it was widely considered a rebuilding year with an eye on 2014 and beyond. So, considering that they haven't been in the playoff race for the last few months, what makes September any different than June, July or August for the Cubs?

When Billy Hamilton gets called up from the minor leagues by the Cincinnati Reds, he's going to prove that a player doesn't need to start games in order to make his presence felt—or to make an impact on a hotly-contested playoff race.

Looking to secure not only a postseason berth but the NL Central division title, the Pittsburgh Pirates have added a pair of veteran bats in a deal with the New York Mets.

Teams throughout the Cincinnati Reds farm system are coming into the final games of the 2013 season. Players have proven just about all they can to this point, but some are still fighting for positions on the Reds' roster when they expand to 40 players on September 1st.

Certain prospects, including some on this list, already have a spot on the 40-man roster and will make their way to Cincinnati next week. Others used last week and this one as well as a springboard to the Queen City for the playoff stretch.

Yesterday's news that the Cubs will likely pursue free agent-to-be outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, which was reported by Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, shouldn't come as much