With the 2016 season getting started, here's a look at where the Mariners' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Alex Jackson -- Extended spring camp
2. Edwin Diaz -- Jackson Generals (AA)
3. Drew Jackson -- Bakersfield Blaze (A Adv)
4. Tyler O'Neill -- Jackson Generals (AA)
5. Luiz Gohara -- Extended spring camp
6. D.J. Peterson -- Jackson Generals (AA)
7. Nick Neidert -- Extended spring camp
8. Boog Powell -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
9. Braden Bishop -- Clinton LumberKings (A)
10. Andrew Moore -- Bakersfield Blaze (A Adv)
11. Dylan Thompson -- Extended spring camp
12. Ryan Yarbrough -- Jackson Generals (AA)
13. Brayan Hernandez -- Extended spring camp
14. Christopher Torres -- Extended spring camp
15. Luis Liberato -- Clinton LumberKings (A)
16. Gareth Morgan -- Extended spring training
17. Tony Zych -- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
18. Nick Wells -- Clinton LumberKings (A)
19. Jio Orozco -- Extended spring training
20. Dan Altavilla -- Jackson Generals (AA)
21. Greifer Andrade -- Extended spring camp
22. Jacob Brentz -- Extended spring camp
23. Cody Mobley -- Extended spring camp
24. Paul Fry -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
25. Tyler Smith -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
26. Austin Wilson -- Bakersfield Blaze (A Adv)
27. Rayder Ascanio -- Clinton LumberKings (A)
28. Kyle Wilcox -- Clinton LumberKings (A)
29. Jonathan Aro -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
30. Mayckol Guaipe -- Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
Team to watch
No Mariners affiliate projects to carry more impactful talent than Double-A Jackson, where five of the organization's Top 30 prospects will begin 2016. Right-hander Edwin Diaz, Seattle's top-ranked pitching prospect, will open the season as the Generals' ace, and he'll be followed in the rotation by Ryan Yarbrough and Dan Altavilla. As for hitters, outfielder Tyler O'Neill will be getting his first taste of the Double-A level after clubbing 32 homers at Class A Bakersfield in 2015, while 2013 first-rounder D.J. Peterson will attempt to get back on track after struggling at the level a year ago.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Tacoma Rainiers
Jackson Generals
New faces
The Mariners acquired reliever Jonathan Aro from the Red Sox along with Wade Miley in December. The 25-year-old right-hander reached the Majors for the first time in 2015 but scuffled in his six appearances with Boston, recording a 6.97 ERA and allowing 15 hits in 10 1/3 innings. The Mariners also should have three former international signees make their respective U.S. debuts this year in outfielder Brayan Hernandez -- who signed for $1.85 million in July 2014 -- and infielders Christopher Torres and Greifer Andrade, all of whom played together last season in the Dominican Summer League.
On the shelf
The Mariners are fully healthy entering 2016, though they will have 11 members of their Top 30 beginning the season in extended spring training. That 2014 first-rounder (No. 6 overall pick) and No. 1 prospect Alex Jackson is part of that group comes as a surprise, especially after he began 2015 at Class A Clinton. Though Jackson impressed club officials during Spring Training, they would like to see him develop more consistency in all facets of the game, on and off the field, before giving him a definite Minor League assignment.