With the 2017 season getting started, here's a look at where the Astros' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Francis Martes -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
2. Kyle Tucker -- Buies Creek Astros (A Adv)
3. David Paulino -- Houston Astros (MLB) -- DL
4. Derek Fisher -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
5. Forrest Whitley -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
6. Franklin Perez -- Buies Creek Astros (A Adv)
7. Teoscar Hernandez -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
8. Ramon Laureano -- Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)
9. Daz Cameron -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
10. Miguelangel Sierra -- Extended spring training
11. Garrett Stubbs -- Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)
12. Gilberto Celestino -- Extended spring training
13. J.D. Davis -- Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)
14. Yordan Alvarez -- Extended spring training
15. Freudis Nova -- Dominican Summer League
16. Cionel Perez -- Extended spring training
17. Anibal Sierra -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
18. Jonathan Arauz -- Suspended
19. Ronnie Dawson -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
20. Jandel Gustave -- Houston Astros (MLB)
21. Brady Rodgers -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
22. Jake Rogers -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
23. James Hoyt -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
24. Riley Ferrell -- Buies Creek Astros (A Adv)
25. Colin Moran -- Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
26. Brendan McCurry -- Suspended
27. Jason Martin -- Buies Creek Astros (A Adv)
28. Stephen Wrenn -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
29. Jorge Alcala -- Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
30. Framber Valdez -- Buies Creek Astros (A Adv)
• Complete Astros prospect coverage on MLBPipeline.com/Astros
Team to watch
There is a lot of talent at the lower levels -- the Astros have the most Top 30 talent at Quad Cities in the Class A Midwest League (seven players) and six more in extended spring training or in the Dominican -- but it's hard not to get excited about the high-end talent knocking on the door. Three of the organization's Top 10 are starting the year with Triple-A Fresno: Francis Martes, Derek Fisher and Teoscar Hernandez. They should be joined by David Paulino soon as well.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
Teams on MiLB.TV:
Fresno Grizzlies
Corpus Christi Hooks
Quad Cities River Bandits
New faces
The Astros were quite busy on the international market last summer, bringing in some intriguing talent. Two of those players will be debuting this summer. Freudis Nova, signed for $1.2 million, will make his debut in the Dominican Summer League. It took a while for Cionel Perez to sign, but he did so for $2 million. He's in extended spring training awaiting assignment.
On the shelf
Paulino has had more than his fair share of elbow trouble in his career. He had Tommy John surgery in 2013 and missed the entire 2014 season as a result, though he returned in 2015 and zipped through the Astros' system to reach Houston in 2016 (though he missed some time last season with elbow tendinitis). Now the big right-hander is out with a bone bruise on his pitching elbow. Once ready to go, he'll head to Triple-A Fresno.