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

1. Michael Harris, OF -- Mississippi (Double-A)
2. Spencer Strider, RHP -- Atlanta (MLB)
3. Drew Waters, OF – Gwinnett (Triple-A) – injured list (hamstring)
4. Kyle Muller, LHP -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
5. Bryce Elder, RHP -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
6. Braden Shewmake, SS -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
7. Vaughn Grissom, SS -- Rome (High-A)
8. Tucker Davidson, LHP -- Atlanta (MLB)
9. Freddy Tarnok, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
10. Jared Shuster, LHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
11. Jesse Franklin, OF -- Mississippi (Double-A)
12. Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP -- injured (Tommy John surgery rehab)
13. Victor Vodnik, RHP -- Extended spring training
14. Darius Vines, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
15. Indigo Diaz, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
16. Ambioris Tavarez, SS -- Extended spring training
17. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
18. Cal Conley, SS -- Augusta (Single-A)
19. Diego Benitez, SS -- Dominican Academy
20. Brooks Wilson, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
21. William Woods, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
22. Alan Rangel, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
23. Dylan Dodd, LHP -- Rome (High-A)
24. Tyler Collins, OF -- Extended spring training
25. Andrew Hoffman, RHP -- Rome (High-A)
26. Adam Shoemaker, LHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
27. Luke Waddell, SS -- Mississippi (Double-A)
28. Jared Johnson, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
29. Douglas Glod, OF -- Dominican Academy
30. Trey Harris, OF -- Mississippi (Double-A)

Team to watch
Mississippi is the place to be, and not only because top prospect Michael Harris will be there. One-third of the Top 30 -- that’s right, 10 in total – are starting the year in Double-A. Six of the top 15 will call Mississippi home. If you’re looking for an alternative, three of the top six will start the year in Triple-A Gwinnett, with a fourth (Drew Waters) likely to join them once he’s healthy.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A Gwinnett
Double-A Mississippi
High-A Rome
Single-A Augusta

New faces
This past January was the first time in quite awhile that the Braves had a full international bonus pool to use on the free agent market. They put it to good use, giving $2.5 million to shortstop Diego Benitez and $1.3 million to outfielder Douglas Glod. Both will make their professional debuts in the Dominican Summer League later this year.

On the shelf
The Braves knew 2021 draftee Spencer Schwellenbach would be spending the year rehabbing from the Tommy John surgery he had shortly after signing. Unfortunately, he’s been joined by two other Top 30 pitchers, as Brooks Wilson and Jared Johnson recently had the elbow surgery and will miss all of 2022. Outfielder Drew Waters is out with a hamstring issue and will join Gwinnett once he’s healthy.