Where Pirates Top 30 prospects are starting '22

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Pirates Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Nick Gonzales (MLB No. 20), 2B -- Altoona (Double-A)
2. Henry Davis (MLB No. 24), C -- Greensboro (High-A)
3. Oneil Cruz (MLB No. 26), SS -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
4. Quinn Priester (MLB No. 54), RHP -- Altoona (Double-A)
5. Roansy Contreras (MLB No. 71), RHP -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
6. Liover Peguero (MLB No. 79), SS -- Altoona (Double-A)
7. Endy Rodriguez, C -- Greensboro (High-A)
8. Anthony Solometo, LHP -- Extended spring training
9. Bubba Chandler, RHP -- Extended spring training
10. Matt Fraizer, OF -- Altoona (Double-A)
11. Michael Burrows, RHP -- Altoona (Double-A)
12. Jared Jones, RHP -- Greensboro (High-A)
13. Travis Swaggerty, OF -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
14. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP -- Altoona (Double-A)
15. Lonnie White, OF -- Extended spring training
16. Miguel Yajure, RHP -- Pittsburgh (MLB)
17. Ji-Hwan Bae, 2B -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
18. Maikol Escotto, SS -- Greensboro (High-A)
19. Kyle Nicolas, RHP -- Altoona (Double-A)
20. Jared Triolo, 3B -- Altoona (Double-A)
21. Diego Castillo, 2B -- Pittsburgh (MLB)
22. Hudson Head, OF -- Greensboro (High-A)
23. Canaan Smith-Njigba, OF -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
24. Mason Martin, 1B -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
25. Tucupita Marcano, INF -- Altoona (Double-A)
26. Rodolfo Nolasco, OF -- Bradenton (Single-A)
27. Rodolfo Castro, 2B -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
28. Calvin Mitchell, OF -- Indianapolis (Triple-A)
29. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP -- Altoona (Double-A)
30. Jack Suwinski, OF -- Altoona (Double-A)

Team to watch
There might not be a more prospect-laden team in the Minors than the Altoona Curve. There, three Top 100 players, led by Pirates No. 1 Nick Gonzales and his double play partner, Liover Peguero, not to mention the organization’s top pitching prospect in Quinn Priester. But there’s depth, too, with 11 of this very deep Top 30 on the roster.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A Indianapolis
Double-A Altoona
Single-A Bradenton

New faces
The Pirates were raving about Kyle Nicolas this spring, with some scouts in other organizations thinking the Pirates did really well to get him in the Jacob Stallings trade. The 6-foot-4 right-hander, who struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings last year with the Marlins, will be part of that very deep Altoona pitching staff.