With the 2018 season getting started, here's a look at where the Padres' Top 30 prospects are starting the season:
1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (MLB No. 8), SS -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
2. MacKenzie Gore (MLB No. 19), LHP -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
3. Luis Urias (MLB No. 36), 2B/SS -- El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)
4. Cal Quantrill (MLB No. 40), RHP -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
5. Michel Baez (MLB No. 42), RHP -- Extended spring training
6. Adrian Morejon (MLB No. 50), LHP -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
7. Anderson Espinoza (MLB No. 89), RHP -- Out for season
8. Logan Allen, LHP -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
9. Joey Lucchesi, LHP -- San Diego Padres (MLB)
10. Franchy Cordero, OF -- San Diego Padres (MLB) -- DL
11. Gabriel Arias, SS -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
12. Esteury Ruiz, 2B -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
13. Eric Lauer, LHP -- El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)
14. Jacob Nix, RHP -- El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)
15. Tirso Ornelas, OF -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
16. Josh Naylor, 1B -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
17. Hudson Potts, 3B -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
18. Jorge Ona, OF -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
19. Jeisson Rosario, OF -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
20. Edward Olivares, OF -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
21. Trey Wingenter, RHP -- El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)
22. Andres Munoz, RHP -- Extended spring training
23. Chris Paddack, RHP -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
24. Luis Campusano, C -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
25. Mason Thompson, RHP -- Fort Wayne TinCaps (A)
26. Pedro Avila, RHP -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
27. Luis Almanzar, SS/3B -- Extended spring training
28. David Bednar, RHP -- Lake Elsinore Storm (A Adv)
29. Austin Allen, C -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
30. Michael Gettys, OF -- San Antonio Missions (AA)
• Padres prospect coverage | Padres Top 30 prospects stats
Team to watch
A case could be made here for any of the Padres' four full-season teams, really. But Double-A San Antonio, with a pair of Top 100 prospects in Tatis Jr. and Quantrill, gets the nod. The Missions' roster will feature only five of the Padres' Top 30 prospects on Opening Day, albeit with some star power up top, and others poised to join the Texas League club as the season unfolds. That's especially true for the Padres' Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore rotation, a group that includes Baez, Morejon, Paddack and Avila.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2018 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)
San Antonio Missions (AA)
New faces
Acquired from the Blue Jays early in January in the Yangervis Solarte deal, Oliveras will open his first Padres season with Lake Elsinore in the hitter-friendly California League. The 22-year-old outfielder should fare well there, too, as he's coming off of a full-season debut in which he paced Blue Jays farmhands in both runs scored (93) and triples (10) while finishing second in home runs (17) and third in RBIs (72).
On the shelf
Baez has a lower back issue that has kept his back in extended spring training, but is expected to join Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore in a few weeks. After undergoing Tommy John surgery nearly one year ago, Espinoza has progressed in his rehab to the point where he's now throwing off of flat ground, though he's still expected to miss all of 2018. Munoz, a 19-year-old fire-baller who was a breakout star in last year's Arizona Fall League, will be held back in extended spring training with a balky right elbow that limited him during camp. As for position players, Cordero, who is one of the more exciting prospects in the system, began his season on the Major League disabled list with a groin sprain.