With Major League and Triple-A Opening Days in the books, the spotlight can fall on the rest of the Minor Leagues.
The other three affiliated levels open play Friday when Double-A, High-A and Single-A leagues all get their respective campaigns underway on MiLB's second Opening Day.
Right off the bat, some of baseball’s top prospects will be on display: Chase Burns (CIN No. 1/MLB No. 25) makes his much-anticipated professional debut for Dayton against Max Clark (DET No. 2/MLB No. 5), Kevin McGonigle (DET No. 3/MLB No. 27), Josue Brice?o (DET No. 6/MLB No. 93) and West Michigan’s loaded lineup at High-A in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.
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All told, there are 61 games scheduled Friday across the Minors. Here's everything you need to know about MiLB Opening Day, all in one place:
Watch free MiLB games on MLB.TV
Baseball fans can watch Minor League Baseball games across all of MLB’s digital platforms, as well as Bally Sports Live.
MLB.TV and MLB At Bat subscribers can watch their favorite team’s Minor League affiliates in the app at no additional cost, while all MiLB games will be available on MiLB.TV, on the web and in the MiLB app.
But with or without a subscription, you can watch select, curated Minor League games featuring MLB’s top prospects FREE here on MLB.com and on the MLB Pipeline homepage all season long. The MiLB Game of the Day will be available on MLB.TV as well.
The three editions of the Game of the Day this weekend feature 10 total Top 100 prospects. After seeing Burns match up with Clark, McGonigle and Briceno, Saturday's game lines up Samuel Basallo (BAL No. 1/MLB No. 12), Coby Mayo (BAL No. 2/MLB No. 13) and the Norfolk Tides against Kyle Teel (CWS No. 2/MLB No. 31), Colson Montgomery (CWS No. 4/MLB No. 38) and Edgar Quero (CWS No. 6/MLB No. 64) and the Charlotte Knights at Triple-A. Sunday's matchup showcases Sebastian Walcott (TEX No. 1/MLB No. 16) as Double-A Frisco takes on Corpus Christi.
Where Top 100 prospects will start the season
Twenty of MLB’s Top 100 prospects are opening 2025 at Double-A, including No. 3 overall prospect Walker Jenkins (MIN No. 1), 2024's top overall pick Travis Bazzana (CLE No. 1/MLB No. 9) and top overall left-handed pitching prospect Noah Schultz (CWS No. 1/MLB No. 15). Sixteen are beginning at High-A and nine more are starting at Single-A.
Meanwhile, 10 are in the Majors, 28 at Triple-A and 17 more are injured or at extended Spring Training. More ?
Notable games to follow
Chesapeake Baysox (BAL) @ Altoona Curve (PIT), 6 p.m. ET: The first non-Triple-A game of the season kicks off in Altoona, with the visiting team assuming its new identity for the first time. Over the offseason the Bowie Baysox, in a bid to better reflect the larger area they represent, changed their name to the Chesapeake Baysox. The primary logo features an “audacious” blue crab waving the Maryland state flag.
Fredericksburg Nationals (WAS) @ Carolina Mudcats (MIL), 6:30 p.m. ET: It’s the beginning of the end for the Carolina Mudcats, who are hosting their final home opener at Five County Stadium. Following the season, the Zebulon, N.C.-based team will relocate 25 miles southeast and become the Wilson Warbirds. Pour one out for the Mudcats’ iconic catfish logo.
Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) @ Rome Emperors (ATL), 6:30 p.m. ET: Here’s a new one: A team playing its home opener on the road. A supremely ill-timed clubhouse pipe burst has caused the Rome Emperors to relocate this series to visiting Winston-Salem. Rome will be the home team in this game, but its real home opener is now scheduled for April 15.
Dayton Dragons (CIN) @ West Michigan Whitecaps (DET), 6:35 p.m. ET: This is the Free MiLB.TV Game of the Day on Opening Day Part 2, and it’s about as loaded of a matchup as you’ll find at the High-A level or, really, anywhere. Chase Burns, the second overall pick in the 2024 Draft, brings a triple-digit fastball and a slew of promising secondaries into his pro debut for Dayton. He’ll have his hands full, however, with the Whitecaps, who boast three of the best prospects in Detroit's top-ranked farm system.
Akron RubberDucks (CLE) @ Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF), 6:35 p.m. ET: This game would have plenty of intrigue as '24 top overall pick Travis Bazzana’s Double-A debut. The former Oregon State star has the plus-plus hit tool and above-average power to rocket toward Cleveland in his first full season, and the ignition will come in the Eastern League. But this is also about the venue. Richmond’s ballpark, The Diamond, opened in 1985 but is set to see its final season 40 years later before the Flying Squirrels move to CarMax Park for 2026. Hall of Fame pitcher, and former Richmond Brave, John Smoltz is scheduled to throw out Friday's ceremonial first pitch.
Hub City Spartanburgers (TEX) @ Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL), 7:05 P.M. ET: Behold, the first-ever Hub City Spartanburgers game. The High-A Rangers affiliate came into existence following the relocation of the Down East Wood Ducks at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The burger-based primary logo is complemented by a bat-swinging spatula (Flip) and a glove-wielding pickle (Chip). This is the first Minor League team to play in Spartanburg, S.C., since the Spartanburg Phillies in 1995.
Nashville Sounds (MIL) @ Gwinnett Stripers (ATL), 7:05 p.m. ET: It may be the other levels’ big night, but we won’t ignore Triple-A entirely. On the comeback trail from last year’s internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Spencer Strider is scheduled to make his second rehab start with Gwinnett on Friday. The Braves right-hander struck out six over three innings against Charlotte last Saturday and got whiffs on all four of his pitch types (four-seam, slider, curveball, changeup).
Columbus Clingstones (ATL) @ Montgomery Biscuits (TB), 7:35 p.m. ET: The Spartanburgers aren’t the only team playing their first-ever game tonight. The Clingstones (named after a type of peach), are based in Columbus, Ga. (the Peach State), but they’re starting the season on the road in Montgomery. When Clingstones take on the Biscuits, the end result is going to be tasty no matter what.
Wichita Wind Surge (MIN) @ Springfield Cardinals (STL), 7:35 p.m. ET: Want hitters in the Double-A Texas League? This game has Walker Jenkins and JJ Wetherholt, the No. 7 pick in the '24 Draft. Want pitching? Twins No. 5 prospect Connor Prielipp, fresh off a standout spring in which he touched 99 mph, gets the start for Wichita against Cardinals No. 12 Tekoah Roby, a former Top 100 prospect who rediscovered his own velocity this spring.
Knoxville Smokies (CHC) @ Birmingham Barons (CWS), 8 p.m. ET: It’s an all-Chicago matchup in the Southern League that combines the new with the familiar. The new: the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate will play its first game under the “Knoxville” moniker that coincides with its move to a downtown ballpark for '25. The familiar: Schultz, the White Sox top prospect, is scheduled to start for Birmingham. The 6-foot-10 southpaw posted a 1.48 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 17 walks in 61 innings with the Barons last year, and his combination of size and stuff could lead to quick Double-A domination in his return.
Vancouver Canadians (TOR) @ Tri-City Dust Devils (LAA), 9:30 p.m. ET: Arjun Nimmala (TOR No. 1/MLB No. 85), Toronto's top pick from the 2023 Draft, overcame a rocky start at Single-A Dunedin last year to slug .564 with 13 homers over his final 53 games. Instead of returning him to the Florida State League for potential dominance, Toronto pushed the 19-year-old shortstop to High-A Vancouver with the knowledge that he’s already shown he can overcome rough starts and make the proper adjustments. Then again, Nimmala may be prepared to build on his momentum and come flying out of the gate in his second full season. Only one way to find out.
Check out new MiLB ballparks
The 2025 season provides the opportunity to check out four new Minor League ballparks, three of which are easily reachable on a single road trip through the southeastern states. The fourth combines good baseball with majestic mountain views. What a way to take in a game. More ?
The Show Before the Show Podcast's Opening Day primer
In The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com writers Tyler Maun and Sam Dykstra break down Minor League Baseball's biggest storylines with guests from around the Minors, including top prospects, managers, player development experts and other newsmakers. They'll also have a weekly look at what's going on outside the lines with business of the Minors expert Benjamin Hill. This week, they make Minor League and prospect predictions for the 2025 season, and Sam and Tyler also highlight some Triple-A matchups to watch for the first weekend of the season. More ?