Top prospects who made 2017 Opening Day rosters

Benintendi, Swanson among nearly 50 players on team Top 30 lists to start season in bigs

April 3rd, 2017

Rosters have been set, players are ready to go and the 2017 baseball season has officially arrived. Opening Day is here and that means prospects have either been told they've made the team or they're headed back to the Minor Leagues.
Those in the Minor Leagues may find themselves in the Majors soon, but for those in the Majors, well, Opening Day signifies a dream come true -- the beginning of their life as a Major Leaguer.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
MLBPipeline.com has compiled a list of prospects from the team Top 30 lists who made their clubs' Opening Day rosters.
* - On DL
Arizona:, OF (No. 6)* -- Brito is currently on the 60-day DL with a broken finger suffered during Spring Training. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Atlanta:Dansby Swanson, SS (No. 1, No. 4 on Top 100) -- Swanson proved he belonged last season, now he gets a chance to start on Opening Day for the first time in his career and showcase his talents for an entire season.  Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Baltimore:, 1B (No. 5), OF/1B (No. 9)* -- Mancini put together a strong offensive showing in the Grapefruit League and was rewarded with his first Opening Day roster spot. The 18th pick in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft, Santander is currently on the 10-day DL with a right forearm strain. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Boston:, OF (No. 1, No. 1 on Top 100), , RHP (No. 19), , LHP (No. 30) -- Benintendi is the preseason favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award and he can start building his case in Game No. 1. Taylor, who had never pitched above Double-A entering Spring Training, posted a 3.46 ERA and struck out 19 in 13 frames this spring. Scott, who went undrafted and began his career in Independent Leagues, is on an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Chicago (AL): Charlie Tilson, OF (No. 12), , OF (No. 26), , RHP (No. 27) -- May began Spring Training in a competition for the center field position, but Tilson got injured and was traded away. Now the job and the opportunity is May's. Covey hasn't pitched above Double-A, where he made six starts last season, but must remain on the Major League roster all season, otherwise the White Sox have to offer the Rule 5 selection back to the Athletics. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Chicago (NL):Albert Almora Jr., OF (No. 3, No. 75 on Top 100) -- Almora has played in a World Series, but hasn't played on Opening Day, a stat that could change on Sunday against the Cardinals. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Cincinnati:, LHP (No. 2, No. 66 on Top 100), , RHP (No. 4, No. 87 on Top 100), , RHP (No. 17), Nick Travieso, RHP (No. 21), , RHP (No. 22) -- Garrett may have been ready for a callup last September, but the call never came. The lefty entered Spring Training hoping to earn a spot in the rotation and did exactly that. Stephenson struggled during Spring Training, but has plenty of potential, which likely contributed to the Reds adding him to their bullpen. Like Garrett, Davis threw well in Spring Training, prompting the team to add him to the rotation. Travieso, the team's first-round pick in 2012, will open the year on the 60-day DL due to right shoulder inflammation. Austin Brice, whom the Reds acquired from the Marlins in the Dan Straily trade in January, will begin the season on the 10-day DL with right ulnar neuritis. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Cleveland:, INF/OF (No. 10), , RHP (No. 24) -- With on the DL (right shoulder) and filling the void at second, the Indians needed someone to man the hot corner, which is where Diaz will see plenty of action. Opponents hit just .167 off Armstrong this spring, perhaps a sign of things to come. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Colorado:, RHP (No. 4, No. 73 on Top 100), , LHP (No. 6), , RHP (No. 9), Tom Murphy, C (No. 11)* -- Rockies fans won't have to wait long to get a glimpse of their future pitching staff with a trio of young arms on the roster to start the season. Murphy will begin the season on the DL after breaking his arm in Spring Training. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Detroit:, OF (No. 9), , SS (No. 10) -- J.D. Martinez's sprained foot shifted and over to right, which opened the door for Jones, who hit .314 in Spring Training, to man center field. Machado, 25, is out of Minor League options so the Tigers either had to add him to the roster, or risk losing him to another club. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Houston:, RHP (No. 3, No. 54 on Top 100), , RHP (No. 20) -- Paulino opens the season on the 10-day DL due to right arm inflammation. Gustave has never been to an Opening Day game in an MLB stadium, but that will change after winning a battle for the team's final bullpen spot. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Kansas City:, LHP (No. 1), , 3B/OF (No. 2)
-- Strahm threw well in 2016 (1.23 ERA in 21 games) and the hope is he can repeat that performance over the course of a full season. Dozier had a strong Spring Training for the Royals, batting .409 with two homers and six RBIs in 22 at-bats. However, Kansas City placed him on the 60-day DL with a left oblique strain.  Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Los Angeles (AL):, RHP (No. 12)* -- Claimed off waivers from the D-backs over the off-season, Campos will begin the season in the Angels' bullpen after he is activated from the 10-day DL (right elbow median nerve irritation). Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Los Angeles (NL):, RHP (No. 8), , OF (No. 9), , C/2B/3B (No. 11) -- Stewart struck out 25 in 28 frames in his Major League debut last season, but begins this year on the 10-day DL due to right shoulder tendinitis. The Dodgers' outfield entered the year fairly crowded, but a herniated disk is hampering , opening the door for Toles. Barnes enters the season with just 74 Major League plate appearances on his resume, but after the departure of A.J. Ellis the Dodgers had an opening for a backup catcher and Barnes seized the job. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Minnesota:, LHP (No. 8) -- Mejia made one Major League appearance in 2016 and will presumably get a longer look this time around. The lefty was impressive in Spring Training, posting a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
New York (AL):, OF (No. 4, No. 45 on Top 100), , 1B/OF (No. 16)
, , RHP (No. 26) -- Judge, 24, got his first taste of the Major Leagues last season, but this will mark his first Opening Day. To make the occasion even more special, Judge will get to play with his parents looking on from the stands in Tampa Bay. Austin made his Major League debut last year and made history with Judge as they became the first teammates to hit home runs in their first Major League at-bats in the same game. Austin will begin the year on the 60-day DL due to a fractured left ankle. Holder made his Major League debut last year and earned a spot in the bullpen after posting a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 Spring Training innings.  Roster | Top 30 Prospects
New York (NL):, RHP (No. 5), , OF (No. 8), Josh Smoker, LHP (No. 20), , INF (No. 30) -- Gsellman made this decision easy for the Mets. The right-hander was lights out nearly every time he took the ball in Spring Training and gave the Mets no choice but to put him on the team, either in the rotation or the bullpen. He'll start the season in the rotation. Nimmo opens the season on the 10-day DL due to a right hamstring issue. Smoker got his feet wet and pitched in 20 games a season ago, and now he'll try to work his way through an entire Major League season. Rivera's versatility and ability to play all over the diamond will give Mets' manager Terry Collins some options to work with. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Oakland:Frankie Montas, RHP (No. 5), , RHP (No. 6), , RHP (No. 24) -- Montas has been highly regarded for a couple years, but injuries have found a way to hinder his development. If Montas can stay healthy, his fastball, which reaches triple digits, should be a valuable asset in Oakland's bullpen. Cotton, acquired in the same trade that netted the A's Montas, begins the season as the No. 3 starter. A strong showing in Cactus League play landed Alcantara in the rotation. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Philadelphia:, C (No. 14) -- The switch-hitting catcher will be making his Major League debut once he appears in a game. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Pittsburgh:, RHP (No. 1, No. 8 on Top 100), Josh Bell, 1B (No. 3, No. 27 on Top 100), , 2B/OF (No. 17), , RHP (No. 18) -- Glasnow struggled a bit during spring, but has a high ceiling, which the Pirates hope he can reach this season. Offseason surgeries are never a good thing, but Bell's foot surgery was early enough in camp that he's good to go for Opening Day. Hanson's positional versatility was a factor in him making the squad as a bench player. Williams didn't win the fifth-starter job, but his strong Spring Training (2.04 ERA in 17 2/3 frames) helped him secure a bullpen spot.  Roster | Top 30 Prospects
San Diego:, OF (No. 1, No. 23 on Top 100), , OF (No. 3, No. 42 on Top 100), , LHP (No. 23), , SS (No. 27) -- Margot and Renfroe both received playing time last season, but the thought of entering the season with two Top 100 Prospects in the outfield has to be exciting to both the Padres and their fans. Torres, who briefly appeared in the Majors last season, won the final bullpen job in camp. Cordoba, the third pick in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft, made the Opening Day roster despite never having played above Rookie-level ball entering Spring Training. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
San Francisco:, LHP (No. 11) -- Blach will begin the season in the bullpen -- the lone lefty in the Giants' relieving corps -- but could also make a spot start and will likely be used in a variety of roles. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Seattle:Mitch Haniger, OF (No. 4), , RHP (No. 9), , RHP (No. 13)
, Tony Zych, RHP (No. 14), Chase De Jong, RHP (No. 15), , LHP (No. 20), , LHP (No. 26) -- Haniger, acquired in a trade from the D-backs over the offseason, hit his way onto the Mariners' roster, finishing Spring Training with a .385 average. Altavilla, a converted starter, may be one of Seattle's go-to guys in the late innings. Whalen will begin the year on the 10-day DL due to right shoulder inflammation and Zych will also start the year on the DL, as he recovers from right shoulder biceps tendon transfer surgery. Overton is on the roster, but won't be with the team Opening Day as his wife is scheduled to give birth Tuesday, and De Jong was called up in his absence. Pazos is appearing on his first Opening Day roster and provides the Mariners with an additional left-handed option out of the 'pen. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
St. Louis:, RHP (No. 1, No. 14 on Top 100)
, , RHP (No. 21)* -- Reyes will miss the entire 2017 season due to Tommy John surgery, so the Cardinals' top prospect will maintain his rookie eligibility heading into 2018. Gant threw well in Spring Training, but a groin injury will delay the start of his season. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Tampa Bay:Daniel Robertson, INF (No. 17), , RHP (No. 23)* -- Robertson, 23, is a Major Leaguer for the first time in his career. The shortstop hit .268 in Spring Training and can provide the Rays with solid defense. Gadea, whom the Rays selected in the Rule 5 Draft, will begin the season on the DL with tendinitis in his right elbow. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Texas:, INF/OF (No. 23), , C (No. 25)* , RHP (No. 26) -- Robinson hit 20 homers and stole 17 bases at Triple-A Round Rock last year and the fact that he can play in the infield or the outfield helped him crack the Opening Day roster. Nicholas, who hit .275 in 40 Major League at-bats last year, will start the season on the 10-day DL following left knee surgery. Leclerc pitched his way onto the roster during Spring Training and can help the Rangers get a much needed strikeout, coming out of the bullpen with his upper 90s fastball. Roster | Top 30 Prospects
Washington:, RHP (No. 7) -- was named the Nationals' closer, but Glover appears to be the team's closer of the future. In the meantime, he'll still serve as a valuable late innings reliever. Roster | Top 30 Prospects