With the Minor League season opening on Tuesday, here's where the Padres’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. MacKenzie Gore (MLB No. 6), LHP -- El Paso (Triple-A)
2. CJ Abrams (MLB No. 8), SS -- San Antonio (Double-A)
3. Luis Campusano (MLB No. 37), C -- El Paso (Triple-A)
4. Robert Hassell III (MLB No. 53), OF -- Lake Elsinore (Low-A)
5. Ryan Weathers (MLB No. 88), LHP -- San Diego (MLB)
6. Tucupita Marcano, INF -- El Paso (Triple-A)
7. Justin Lange, RHP -- Extended spring training
8. Reggie Lawson, RHP -- Extended spring training
9. Jorge Oña, OF -- Injured
10. Joshua Mears, OF -- Lake Elsinore (Low-A)
11. Mason Thompson, RHP -- El Paso (Triple-A)
12. Anderson Espinoza, RHP -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
13. Reiss Knehr, RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
14. Jagger Haynes, LHP -- Extended spring training
15. Brayan Medina, RHP -- Extended spring training
16. Efrain Contreras, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John)
17. Steven Wilson, RHP -- El Paso (Triple-A)
18. Eguy Rosario, INF -- San Antonio (Double-A)
19. Tirso Ornelas, OF -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
20. Victor Acosta, SS -- Extended spring training
21. Victor Lizarraga, RHP -- Extended spring training
22. Mason Fox, RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
23. Samuel Zavala, OF -- Extended spring training
24. Jordan Humphreys, RHP -- Injured
25. Daniel Montesino, OF -- Extended spring training
26. Brandon Valenzuela, C -- Lake Elsinore (Low-A)
27. Lake Bachar, RHP -- Injured
28. Mason Feole, LHP -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
29. Osvaldo Hernandez, LHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
30. Carlos Guarate, RHP -- Lake Elsinore (Low-A)

Team to watch
While CJ Abrams’ push to Double-A is certainly promising, the team to watch is still the one at the top of the Minor League chain in El Paso. The Chihuahuas claim three of the Padres’ top six prospects in MacKenzie Gore, Luis Campusano and Tucupita Marcano. The latter two have already seen the Majors this season, and Gore – the top pitching prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings – may not be far off from getting a look himself if he can improve the command issues that dogged him at last year’s alternate training site.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A El Paso
Double-A San Antonio
High-A Fort Wayne

New faces

Since last August, Jordan Humphreys has passed through the Mets, Giants and Indians systems, only to be claimed off waivers by the Padres in March. The 24-year-old right-hander offers three solid pitches in his fastball, curve and change and can typically fill up the strike zone well. His Padres debut will have to wait, however, as he’ll open the season with an undisclosed injury.

On the shelf

Like Humphreys, Jorge Oña and Lake Bachar are also out with undisclosed injuries. All three were expected to provide upper-level depth in the early going. No. 16 prospect Efrain Contreras will miss the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November