The Houston Astros have to make the playoffs first, and early September finds them a small handful of games in front of the Oakland A’s in the American League Western Division. Then, manager AJ Hinch has to officially announce the team’s roster for the first round of the playoffs.

Having scribbled those facts into a paragraph, it would seem nothing short of foolhardy for Hinch to construct a playoff roster that would leave either or both of Tony Kemp and Tyler White out of the postseason daily lineup.

Venn Diagram (The Middle Part)

Both toiled in the confines of Houston’s Triple-A level for the Fresno Grizzlies longer than players associated with lesser teams would have. Being a fringe player or a minor leaguer on a team loaded with Houston’s talent that fights for and finally wins a World Series usually leaves one’s nose pressed against the proverbial glass.

Both Kemp and White have battled through brief call-ups, though, were offered minimal plate appearances, only to be jettisoned back to Fresno with nothing of consequence to add to their respective resumes.

And, both offer Hinch a variety of options in the field, as their defensive flexibility makes them that much more valuable and, thus, likely lineup fixtures…. what the resort and cruise industries would call “value-added.”

“Kempy” (Kempin’s Gettin’ a Lot Easier)

The creator of the “Hugs for Homers” movement is a lefty sparkplug who can (and has) led off for Hinch, as well as performed in the #9 hole in the lineup.

Kemp, 26, can spell Jose Altuve at second base (his original position before outfield exposure prescribed by Houston two years ago aided his progression), as well as play center field and left.

Kemp was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Astros out of Vanderbilt. Mike Elias, Astros’ assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting, said of Kemp at the time, “He has a ferocious approach at the plate and treats at-bats like they’re wars. That wears pitchers out.”

Kemp was called up to the Astros from Fresno on May 16. Since then, he’s actually hit better against left-handed pitchers than righties, .281 to .273. His cumulative OBP of .367 reflects the good eye that’s yielded nearly as many walks (30) as strikeouts (35).

He’s stolen eight bases in 11 attempts and has swatted 13 doubles and five homers in 255 plate appearances.

Tony got married in Jamaica following the Astros’ World Series victory and purchased his first house in Nashville, TN. Having not made the cut for the World Series roster, he watched Game 7 anxiously from his in-laws’ house, cheering wildly but nervously for his teammates. He got his ring, inasmuch as he played in 17 games with the Astros last season.

“You just have to come to the field with a positive attitude each day,” Kemp said after a Spring Training game in February. “At the end of the day, you’re going to look at yourself and say, ‘Did I do the best I could?’ If you did, then you can sleep better at night.

“It was one of those things — I wanted to come into camp and make sure my arm was feeling good to be at second and play all the outfield positions, and strengthening my arm was one of the keys in the offseason,” Kemp revealed.

“There’s a chance he is the puzzle piece we’re looking for at the end of the spring,” Hinch told MLB.com. “The better he plays, the more eyes he’ll open.”

Kemp’s consistent bat and high-flying defense have forced all possible eyes to be opened… wide.

Related: Tony Kemp’s Hall of Fame Comp: The Young Joe Morgan

“Big Puddin’,” “Whitey,” “Great White”

“Don’t press. Don’t do too much. Just continue to go out and play the game and enjoy playing the game.” The philosophy of Tyler White, simply put. His professional outlook was hewn largely during his four-years at Fresno, the last three years, portions thereof, after making his MLB debut on the 2016 Opening Day roster.

White became the first rookie position player in American League history to be named Player of the Week during the first week of that 2016 season.

“The moment’s not too big for him. Who knows what he can do? Maybe he can get better,” Hinch said in April 2016 during that memorable week when White went 10-for-18 with three homers, two doubles, and nine RBIs.

White, 27, was drafted out of Western Carolina in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft. The 5’11”, 225-pound White has opened eyes himself, pulling in a .295 average, 11 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a bulbous .964 OPS in just 146 at-bats.

Through games of September 4, and proving a connection between his success and the team’s, the Astros won 11 of 14 games, scoring 74 runs (5.3/game) in that span. White hit .346 (18-for-52) during that 14-game run, with 15 RBIs.

White’s flexibility is only slightly narrower than Kemp’s, inasmuch as first base is his natural home, although he’s seen brief time in Houston at 2B, 3B, and left field.

“The guy can flat-out hit,” outfielder George Springer has said of White.

“I couldn’t be happier for that guy. He’s grinded his way,” catcher Max Stassi recently told the Houston Chronicle. Stassi, enduring similar yo-yo years from the minors to Houston as Kemp and White, finally caught on with the Astros, himself, this season after bouncing up and down since White was drafted. “He got here, he went back, he went back and forth. What you’re seeing now is a testament to his mindset of grinding through the good times and bad times.”

“When he got sent down the last time [July 16 after a month in Houston], he sat in my office pretty dejected,” Hinch said recently. “He was very upset and kept asking me and [general manager] Jeff [Luhnow] like, ‘What do I have to do?’ Because he had performed fine.

“We told him he’s got to keep hitting and, when he got another opportunity, to hit even more. And he’s done that. It’s been remarkable — the quality of at-bats, the production — and ultimately, he’s dictating playing time by how he’s playing, and he’s creating his own opportunity.”

That opportunity and their respective talents will help carry Houston into the playoffs, creating the opportunity, then, for Tony Kemp and Tyler White to finally make their first playoff roster.