The long wait for Minor League baseball finally came to an end Thursday with an Opening Day schedule that saw 54 games played across four levels.
Though there were plenty of standout performances at the plate, the first day of the season belonged to the pitchers. In total, 28 pitching prospects who rank in the Top 10 in their organization made their season debut yesterday -- five of whom enter the year ranked as their club's top pitching prospect: Blake Snell (Rays), Edwin Diaz (Mariners), Tyler Beede (Giants), Conner Greene (Blue Jays) and Nate Smith (Angels).
Friday figures to be another pitching-dominant day across the Minor Leagues as another wave of promising young arms takes the mound and begins their season.
• MLB's Top 100 Prospects list
After his impressive spring in big league camp, Reds No. 3 prospectCody Reed (No. 65 overall) will make his highly anticipated debut for Triple-A Louisville on the road against Toledo (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV). Shortly thereafter, White Sox No. 1 prospect Carson Fulmer (No. 37 overall) will make his Double-A debut for the Birmingham Barons (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV).
Speaking of debuts, Giants No. 3 prospect Phil Bickford is scheduled make his first full-season start for Class A Augusta, and Giants fans will be happy to know that they can watch the 2015 first-rounder's outing on MiLB.TV at 7 p.m. ET.
Lastly, those looking to catch a glimpse of the next teenage phenom should fire up MiLB.TV at 7 p.m. ET and watch Red Sox No. 4 prospect Anderson Espinoza (No. 38 overall) make his season debut for Class A Greenville.
Friday's top prospect probables
Trevor Williams (Pirates No. 24), Indianapolis at Columbus (AAA)
Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays No. 3), Lansing vs. Great Lakes (A)
Clay Holmes (Pirates No. 15), Altoona vs. Harrisburg (AA)
Tom Robson (Blue Jays No. 22), Dunedin at Clearwater (A Adv)
Austin Gomber (Cardinals No. 17), Palm Beach vs. Charlotte (A Adv)
Austin Smith (Padres No. 8), Casey Shane (Indians No. 30); Fort Wayne at Lake County (A)
Chris Flexen (Mets No. 29), St. Lucie vs. Jupiter (A Adv)
Tyler Mahle (Reds No. 11), Daytona at Brevard County (A Adv)
Myles Jaye (Tigers No. 26), Cale Coshow (Yankees No. 22); Erie at Trenton (AA)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers No. 15), Lakeland at Tampa (A Adv)
Shawn Morimando (Indians No. 16), David Hess (Orioles No. 16); Akron at Bowie (AA)
Jarlin Garcia (Marlins No. 3); Birmingham at Jacksonville (AA)
Kohl Stewart (Twins No. 7), Fort Myers vs. Bradenton (A Adv)
Travis Lakins (Red Sox No. 11), Salem vs. Carolina (A)
Dillon Tate (Rangers No. 4), Hickory at Kannapolis (A)
Yoan Lopez (Diamondbacks No. 8), Mobile at Tennessee (AA)
Foster Griffin (Royals No. 9), Lexington vs. Lakewood (A)
Alex Young (Diamondbacks No. 5) Kane County vs. Clinton (A)
Jaime Barria (Angels No. 14), Peoria at Burlington (A)
Marcos Diplan (Brewers No. 20), Wisconsin at Beloit (A)
Jharel Cotton (Dodgers No. 9), Oklahoma City at Nashville (AAA)
Adalberto Mejia (Giants No. 11), Richmond at Hartford (AA)
Amir Garrett (Reds No. 4), Chris Ellis (Braves No. 14); Pensacola at Mississippi (AA)
Connor Sadzeck (Rangers No. 27), Matt Strahm (Royals No. 10); Frisco at Northwest Arkansas (AA)
Ryan Yarbrough (Mariners No. 12), Jackson vs. Montgomery (AA)
Chris Anderson (Dodgers No. 17), David Paulino (Astros No. 7) Tulsa at Corpus Christi (AA)
Raul Alcantara (A's No. 16), Victor Alcantara (Angels No. 4); Midland at Arkansas (AA)
Clayton Blackburn (Giants No. 12), Sacramento at Salt Lake (AAA)
Justin Anderson (Angels No. 24), Inland Empire at High Desert (A Adv)
Sam Coonrod (Giants No. 6) San Jose vs. Lancaster (A Adv)
Seth Lugo (Mets No. 25), Las Vegas vs. Fresno (AAA)
Sam Howard (Rockies No. 27), Modesto at Stockton (A Adv)