Where D-backs' Top 30 prospects are starting season

April 4th, 2018

With the 2018 season getting started, here's a look at where the D-backs' Top 30 prospects are starting the season:
1. Jon Duplantier (MLB No. 74), RHP -- Extended spring training
2. Pavin Smith (MLB No. 91), 1B -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
3. Jasrado Chisholm, SS -- Kane County Cougars (A)
4. , RHP -- Jackson Generals (AA)
5. Marcus Wilson, OF -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
6. Daulton Varsho, C -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
7. Taylor Clarke, RHP -- Reno Aces (AAA)
8. Drew Ellis, 3B -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
9. Matt Tabor, RHP -- Extended Spring Training
10. Gabriel Maciel, OF -- Extended Spring Training
11. Eduardo Diaz, OF -- Extended Spring Training
12. Kristian Robinson, OF -- Extended Spring Training
13. , SS/2B -- Jackson Generals (AA)
14. , OF -- Reno Aces (AAA)
15. , RHP -- Reno Aces (AAA)
16. Jhoan Duran, RHP -- Extended Spring Training
17. , LHP -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
18. , LHP -- Reno Aces (AAA)
19. Andy Yerzy, C -- Kane County Cougars (A)
20. Kevin Cron, 1B -- Reno Aces (AAA)
21. Anfernee Grier, OF -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
22. Jose Almonte, RHP -- Jackson Generals (AA)
23. Alex Young, LHP -- Jackson Generals (AA)
24. Brian Shaffer, RHP -- Kane County Cougars (A)
25. , SS/2B -- Reno Aces (AAA)
26. Yoan Lopez, RHP -- Jackson Generals (AA)
27. Elvis Luciano, RHP -- Extended Spring Training
28. Eudy Ramos, 3B/1B -- Kane County Cougars (A)
29. Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP -- Visalia Rawhide (A Adv)
30. Mason McCullough, RHP -- Jackson Generals (AA)
D-backs prospect coverage | D-backs Top 30 prospects stats
Team to watch
Seven of the prospects on the D-backs' Top 30 will start the year with the Visalia Rawhide in the hitting-friendly California League. That's very good news for the four hitters in the organization's top 10 who will call Visalia home. It starts with No. 2 prospect and 2017 first-rounder Pavin Smith and includes fellow '17 draftees, catcher Daulton Varsho (No. 7 prospect) and third baseman Drew Ellis (No. 8). They'll be joined by '17 breakout prospect Marcus Wilson, the toolsy outfielder who is ranked No. 5 in the Top 30.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2018 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Reno Aces
Jackson Generals
Kane County Cougars
Hillsboro Hops
New faces
When the D-backs traded to the Yankees in February, they got No. 4 prospect Taylor Widener in return. The right-hander, who was a 12th-rounder out of South Carolina in the 2016 Draft, is coming off of a very strong first full season that saw him strike out 9.7 per nine and hold Florida State League hitters to a .206 batting average. Widener topped the circuit in WHIP and was fourth in ERA. He'll make his D-backs debut with Jackson.
D-backs fans might have to wait a bit longer to see international import Kristian Robinson in action. The Bahamanian native signed last July for $2.5 million, but it's possible he won't even play in the United States until 2019, perhaps beginning his career this summer in the Dominican Sumer League.
On the shelf
Duplantier is beginning the season in extended spring training as he recovers from a hamstring issue.