Where the Mariners' Top 30 prospects are starting the season

April 4th, 2017

With the 2017 season getting started, here's a look at where the Mariners' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Kyle Lewis -- Extended spring camp -- rehab
2. -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
3. Nick Neidert -- Modesto Nuts (A Adv)
4. Mitch Haniger -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
5. -- Arkansas Travelers (AA)
6. -- Arkansas Travelers (AA)
7. Brayan Hernandez -- Extended spring camp
8. Joe Rizzo -- Extended spring camp
9. -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
10. Dan Vogelbach -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
11. -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
12. -- Arkansas Travelers (AA)
13. -- Disabled list
14. Tony Zych -- Disabled list
15. Chase De Jong -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
16. Braden Bishop -- Modesto Nuts (A Adv)
17. Bryson Brigman -- Clinton Lumberkings (A)
18. Christopher Torres -- Extended spring camp
19. Ben Gamel -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
20. -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
21. Brandon Miller -- Clinton Lumberkings (A)
22. Luis Liberato -- Clinton Lumberkings (A)
23. Donnie Walton -- Modesto Nuts (A Adv)
24. Greifer Andrade -- Extended spring camp
25. -- Suspended
26. -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
27. -- Arkansas Travelers (AA)
28. Pablo Lopez -- Modesto Nuts (A Adv)
29. -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
30. Nick Wells -- Clinton Lumberkings (A)
Complete Mariners prospect coverage on MLBPipeline.com/Mariners
Team to watch
The Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers' offense once again should pack a punch this season thanks to the presence of sluggers O'Neill -- MLBPipeline.com's No. 34 overall prospect and the 2016 Southern League MVP -- Vogelbach and Peterson, as well as top-of-the-order table-setter Gamel. Double-A Arkansas, meanwhile, has the most pitching talent, with right-handers Moore and Povse comprising part of the rotation and flame-thrower Vieira at the back end of the bullpen.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Tacoma Rainiers
Arkansas Travelers
New faces
No general manager was busier than Jerry Dipoto during the offseason, as he dealt many of the club's former top prospects for both big leaguers and upper-level prospects capable of influencing the Mariners' success in 2017. Dipoto's moves netted De Jong, Haniger, Overton, Pazos, Povse and Whalen, all of whom, save for Povse, broke camp on the club's active roster.
On the shelf
2016 first-rounder Kyle Lewis is gradually ramping up his activity in extended spring camp as he continues to work his way back from last July's reconstructive knee surgery. Provided his rehab goes according to plan, the Mariners' top prospect (No. 27 overall) could be cleared for game action at some point in July. Both Whalen (right shoulder inflammation) and Zych (right shoulder/biceps surgery) will open the year on the 10-day disabled list -- Zych is ticketed for a rehab assignment at Tacoma out of the gate -- while outfielder Powell will sit out the first five games of the season as he serves the remainder of the 80-game suspension levied against him last June.