Minor League Baseball

Half of MLB's Top 100 Prospects Start Season on Lower-Level Minor League Opening Day

A week after the Triple-A season began, top prospects in Double-A, High-A and Single-A like Walker Jenkins, Ethan Salas and Travis Bazzana are finally set to start their campaigns.
Sam Connon|
Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas (90) looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas (90) looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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San Diego PadresChicago White SoxSeattle MarinersMiami MarlinsColorado RockiesKansas City RoyalsCleveland GuardiansDetroit TigersMinnesota TwinsTampa Bay RaysToronto Blue Jays

Fans have surely gotten their fill of baseball over the past week, with MLB starting its regular season on March 27 and Triple-A following suit on March 28.

But now, a majority of the game's top up-and-comers are finally set to get in on the action.

Double-A, High-A and Single-A all have Opening Day on Friday, marking the beginning of the season for nearly 100 affiliate teams in the middle and lower levels. Nine of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects are currently in Single-A, while 22 are in High-A and 23 are in Double-A.

Among the headliners are Minnesota Twins outfielder Walker Jenkins, Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Clark, Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana, Kansas City Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone and San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas. Noah Schultz will be taking the mound for the Chicago White Sox's Double-A affiliate, serving as the Birmingham Barons' Opening Day starting pitcher.

Double-A games will get going at 6 p.m. ET, when the Pittsburgh Pirates' Altoona Curve face the Baltimore Orioles' Chesapeake Baysox. The High-A slate gets underway at 6:05 p.m. ET, while the first Single-A contest is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET.

Rookie ball and short-season summer leagues are the only levels that won't be active after this weekend. Their schedules begin on May 3.

Related MiLB Stories

  • DOLLANDER'S IMPENDING CALL-UP: Chase Dollander struggled in spring training, but one MLB expert thinks the Rockies' top prospect won't spend very long in Triple-A this season. CLICK HERE
  • WOOSOX STILL STAR-STUDDED: Even with Kristian Campbell getting called up to the Red Sox's active roster, top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer remain with Triple-A Worcester. CLICK HERE
  • WILLIAMS' ETA: Carson Williams' glove may be big-league ready right now, but the Rays are expected to wait another few months before they call up their top prospect. CLICK HERE

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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