Here are the 53 top prospects on Opening Day rosters
You know the big names. Top 10 overall prospects Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodr¨ªguez, Spencer Torkelson and C.J. Abrams are each heading to the Majors for the first time, making this an historic Opening Day rookie class.
The news gets better because the list is even deeper than that.
Fifty-three prospects ranked among their organizations' Top 30 by MLB Pipeline will begin the 2022 season in The Show. That includes 12 Top 100 prospects in Witt (No. 1), Rodr¨ªguez (No. 3), Torkelson (No. 4), Abrams (No. 9), Reid Detmers (No. 21), Hunter Greene (No. 22), Joey Bart (No. 31), Nick Lodolo (No. 42), Bryson Stott (No. 45), Josh Lowe (No. 50), Joe Ryan (No. 97) and Matt Brash (No. 98).
Here's our look at all prospects on team Top 30 lists who made Opening Day rosters:
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
BLUE JAYS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
ORIOLES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Mike Baumann, RHP (No. 13); Felix Bautista, RHP (No. 30)
A triceps injury is likely the only thing that kept Adley Rutschman from taking a prominent spot on this list. Instead, it features two right-handers. Baumann remains a starting/bulk option for the O's while Bautista is expected to be more of a traditional reliever.
RAYS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Josh Lowe, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 50)
Austin Meadows' trade to Detroit paved the way for Lowe, who had been optioned to Triple-A Durham beforehand, to crack the Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old outfielder is a gifted runner, defender and slugger with the only questions coming on his overall hitting ability. He should slide into a right field spot with the big club.
Injured list: Shane Baz, RHP (No. 1; MLB No. 12)
RED SOX (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Kutter Crawford, RHP (No. 25)
Crawford could provide some length out of the Boston bullpen after working almost exclusively as a starter in the Minors. Striking out 10 of the 20 batters he faced in the spring helped him punch his ticket to The Show.
YANKEES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Clarke Schmidt, RHP (No. 7), JP Sears, LHP (No. 24), Ron Marinaccio, RHP (No. 28)
The Yankees don't expect to ride their starters hard out of the gate, and it could be Schmidt and Sears they turn to out of the bullpen to help eat innings early. Marinaccio is more of a typical reliever with a mid-90s fastball and plus changeup.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
GUARDIANS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Bryan Lavastida, C (No. 12); Steven Kwan, OF (No. 15)
Kwan went 15-for-32 (.469) and did not strike out at all in Cactus League play, leading Cleveland to include him in its outfield mix to start the year. Lavastida, who climbed three levels in 2021, will back up Austin Hedges behind the plate in his first taste of the Majors.
ROYALS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Bobby Witt Jr., SS (No. 1, MLB No. 1), Kyle Isbel, OF (No. 7)
The Royals kept third base open this spring in hopes Witt would win the job, and MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect did just that. The five-tool star should be an easy contender for the American League Rookie of the Year candidate all summer long.
TIGERS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Spencer Torkelson, 1B (No. 1, MLB No. 4); Jason Foley, RHP (No. 19)
The 2020 first overall pick only needed one 30-homer season in the Minors to win a spot in the Majors. Torkelson takes over at first base in his first season in Detroit, and the Tigers and their fans alike hope he holds down the job for years to come. Foley returns to the Detroit bullpen where he made 11 appearances in 2021.
TWINS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Joe Ryan, RHP (No. 4, MLB No. 97); Jhoan Duran, RHP (No. 6); Josh Winder, RHP (No. 7)
Ryan will be the rare prospect to make an Opening Day start when he takes the mound in Friday's opener against the Mariners, and the right-hander's invisiball and plus control could be ready for the moment. Duran wowed with special velocity and his trademark splinker to earn a bullpen spot coming off the spring, while Winder will provide length out of the 'pen initially with hopes of joining the rotation down the line.
WHITE SOX (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Jake Burger, 3B (No. 7); Bennett Sousa, LHP (No. 25)
Yo¨¢n Moncada's move to the injured list opened up a roster spot for Burger as well as potential early playing time at third base for the right-handed slugger. Sousa will utilize his plus slider as a left-handed reliever.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
ANGELS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Reid Detmers, LHP (No. 1, MLB No. 21), Austin Warren, RHP (No. 17)
Pay little mind to Detmers' 7.40 ERA in five Major League starts last season. His four-pitch arsenal -- headlined by a 65-grade curveball -- and plus control helped get him right back in the Halos' rotation to begin his second professional season. On the flip side, Warren will build on his 1.77 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 20 1/3 relief innings with the big club from 2021.
ASTROS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Jeremy Pe?a, SS (No. 1); Jose Siri, OF (No. 14)
It won't be easy replacing Carlos Correa at Houston's shortstop position, but that's just what Pe?a is being asked to do in his first trip to the Majors. The former Maine Black Bear is a gifted defender at the six and has improved his power since he went in the third round in 2018. Siri will split time with Chas McCormick in center field until Jake Meyers can return to the Astros lineup.
A'S (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Cristian Pache, OF (No. 4), Daulton Jefferies, RHP (No. 14), A.J. Puk, LHP (No. 15), Kevin Smith, SS/3B (No. 17)
The A's went into sell mode this spring, and former Brave Pache and former Blue Jay Smith will begin their time in the system as Major Leaguers. Pache, a defensive wizard, will be the club's starting center fielder until Ram¨®n Laureano returns while Smith will compete for playing time across the infield. Jefferies figures to be Oakland's No. 4 starter to begin 2022, while Puk, who looked much better this spring, will be a bullpen arm.
MARINERS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
Julio Rodr¨ªguez, OF (No. 1, MLB No. 3), Matt Brash, RHP (No. 6, MLB No. 98)
The J-Rod Show will now be broadcast out of Seattle. MLB Pipeline's No. 3 overall prospect is jumping right over Triple-A to become the M's center fielder. He brings plus-plus offensive tools and improving speed to a Seattle club finally looking to make a playoff spot. Brash is a special talent in his own right with breaking pitches that make any evaluators' mouths water. He won the Mariners' No. 5 starting spot following an impressive Cactus League.
RANGERS (Roster | Top 30 prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
BRAVES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Spencer Strider, RHP (No. 2), Tucker Davidson, LHP (No. 8)
Strider and Davidson will both be sixth starter options for the defending World Series champs out of the gates. That may not be a traditional role either; both pitchers could work as openers or long relievers following an opener. Strider's upper-90s fastball deserves watching wherever he pitches.
MARLINS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Cody Poteet, RHP (No. 24)
Poteet made seven starts for the Marlins in 2021, posting a 4.99 ERA in 30 2/3 innings, but will open this campaign as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
METS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
NATIONALS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Joan Adon, RHP (No. 8), Lucius Fox, SS/2B/OF (No. 23)
Adon climbed to the Majors for one start late in 2021 and returns there to begin his 2022 campaign as Washington's No. 5 starter. Even if he doesn't quite stick in that role, he could transition to the bullpen, where he has ample Minor League experience as well. Fox -- a 70-grade speedster on his fifth organization -- will fill a utility role with experience on both the dirt and the grass. The 24-year-old's next game in the Majors will be his first.
PHILLIES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Bryson Stott, SS (No. 1, MLB No. 45), Matt Vierling, OF (No. 10), Simon Muzziotti, OF (No. 22), Christopher S¨¢nchez, LHP (No. 23), Damon Jones, LHP (No. 30)
It seemed like at times a Phillies' infield spot was going to come down to Stott and fellow former first-rounder Alec Bohm. Instead, both earned spots on Joe Girardi's club, and Stott has the steady bat and glove to be a key contributor in Philly's pursuit of the playoffs. Mickey Moniak was going to make the club until he suffered a fractured right hand. He is being replaced by Muzziotti in the outfield mix.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
BREWERS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
CARDINALS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Andre Pallante, RHP (No. 15)
Pallante's velocity gains from late 2021 carried into the spring, and that helped him earn a surprising place in St. Louis' bullpen. His long, over-the-top delivery could make for an uncomfortable at-bat for big leaguers, but control could be a concern at the top level, even in shorter stints.
CUBS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Alfonso Rivas, 1B/OF (No. 23), Ethan Roberts, RHP (No. 30)
The 24-year-old Roberts went viral for his touching reaction to hearing the news of his Major League call-up in the dugout this week. He brings a plus fastball and plus slider to Chicago's bullpen. Rivas will be a left-handed bench option for a Cubs lineup that can get heavy on righties.
PIRATES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Miguel Yajure, RHP (No. 16), Diego Castillo, INF (No. 21)
Castillo pushed his way to The Show by going 13-for-35 (.371) with six homers in 14 games this spring. He got time at second, short, third and right, and a bench utility spot seems like his likely role to begin his Major League career. Yajure will open out of the bullpen after making three starts in the Majors last year.
REDS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 1, MLB No. 22); Nick Lodolo, LHP (No. 2, MLB No. 42)
The next generation of the Reds rotation is already here. The hard-throwing Greene will debut Sunday in Atlanta, while Lodolo, who thrives on a three-pitch mix and plus control, is slated to toe the rubber the following Wednesday.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-BACKS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Geraldo Perdomo, SS (No. 8), Seth Beer (No. 12), Drew Ellis, 3B (No. 18), Corbin Martin, RHP (No. 21), Jake McCarthy, OF (No. 26)
A prospect-laden roster befitting a rebuilding club. Perdomo's rebound to make the Majors for a second straight season is impressive, considering he was sent back to the Arizona complex midway through the 2021 season to rework his swing. He'll provide the D-backs with speed and good defense while Nick Ahmed remains out. Beer looks set to be an early beneficiary of the universal DH, while Ellis seems poised to take over third base for the injured Josh Rojas.
DODGERS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
GIANTS (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
Joey Bart, C (No. 2, MLB No. 31)
The successor to Buster Posey takes his spot behind the plate. MLB Pipeline's No. 31 overall prospect has plus power potential and is gifted in his defensive work as well. Manager Gabe Kapler said Bart will get the lion's share of starts at catcher too, and his success could play a prominent role in how much the Giants can push the Dodgers in the NL West.
PADRES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
CJ Abrams, SS (No. 1), Steven Wilson, RHP (No. 22)
Abams skipped right over Triple-A to win a Major League out of spring on the strength of his plus hit tool, 80-grade speed and newfound defensive versatility. The Padres don't need him to be a direct replacement to the injured Fernando Tatis Jr. -- at least right away -- and the left-handed-hitting shortstop might platoon with Ha-Seong Kim to start 2022. He has the potential to snag an everyday job in the same way he earned an MLB role out of the spring. Wilson will be part of San Diego's bullpen mix with two above-average pitches in his heater and slider.
ROCKIES (Roster | Top 30 Prospects)
No Top 30 prospects on the Opening Day roster.
Injured list: Ryan Rolison, LHP (No. 5)