With the 2016 season getting started, here's a look at where the Athletics' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Franklin Barreto -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
2. Sean Manaea -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
3. Matt Olson -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
4. Richie Martin -- DL
5. Renato Nunez -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
6. Matt Chapman -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
7. Yairo Munoz -- DL
8. Chad Pinder -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
9. Casey Meisner -- Stockton Ports (A Adv)
10. Dillon Overton -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
11. Dakota Chalmers -- Extended spring camp
12. Rangel Ravelo -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
13. Joe Wendle -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
14. Daniel Mengden -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
15. Dylan Covey -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
16. Raul Alcantara -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
17. Ryon Healy -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
18. Skye Bolt -- Beloit Snappers (A)
19. Heath Fillmyer -- Stockton Ports (A Adv)
20. Mikey White -- Stockton Ports (A Adv)
21. Jaycob Brugman -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
22. Ryan Dull -- Oakland Athletics (MLB)
23. Zack Erwin -- Stockton Ports (A Adv)
24. Kevin Duchene -- Extended spring camp
25. Daniel Gossett -- Stockton Ports (A Adv)
26. Trace Loehr -- Beloit Snappers (A)
27. Dustin Driver -- Beloit Snappers (A)
28. Chris Kohler -- Extended spring camp
29. Andrew Triggs -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
30. Aaron Kurcz -- Midland RockHounds (AA)
• Complete coverage of Athletics prospects on MLBPipeline.com/Athletics
Team to watch
Top 100 prospects Sean Manaea (No. 67) and Matt Olson (No. 99) headline Triple-A Nashville's roster for 2016, and they're just two of eight prospects in the A's Top 30 -- including Renato Nunez, Chad Pinder and Dillon Overton -- projected to begin the season with the Sounds. The RockHounds' roster is equally exciting, however, as they'll have top prospect Franklin Barreto (No. 22 overall) and fast-rising third baseman Matt Chapman hitting in the middle of the lineup, and right-handers Daniel Mengden, Dylan Covey and Raul Alcantara comprising a deep starting rotation.
Where teams' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Nashville Sounds
Midland RockHounds
New faces
Left-hander Zack Erwin will open the season with the Stockton Ports roughly 10 months after being selected in the fourth round by the White Sox. The Clemson product was sharp last summer in his pro debut, when he posted a 1.34 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings, finishing the season in the Class A South Atlantic League. The A's also gained a promising bullpen arm in right-hander Andrew Triggs, whom the Orioles added to their 40-man roster during the offseason, only to place him on waivers in early March.
On the shelf
2015 first-rounder Richie Martin will begin the season on the disabled list after undergoing surgery to repair his left medial meniscus. The 21-year-old shortstop suffered the injury while sliding and is expected to miss six weeks. Fellow shortstop Yairo Munoz was bothered by a heel injury for most of the spring and remains out indefinitely, and oft-injured left-hander Chris Kohler will be held back in extended spring camp due to shoulder tendinitis.