With the 2016 season getting started, here's a look at where the Rays' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Blake Snell -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
2. Brent Honeywell -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
3. Willy Adames -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
4. Garrett Whitley -- Extended spring training
5. Jake Bauers -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
6. Taylor Guerrieri -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
7. Daniel Robertson -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
8. Casey Gillaspie -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
9. Jacob Faria -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
10. Mikie Mahtook -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
11. Richie Shaffer -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
12. Ryan Brett -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
13. Chih-Wei Hu -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
14. Justin Williams -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
15. Justin O'Conner -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA) -- DL
16. Chris Betts -- Extended spring training
17. Brandon Koch -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
18. Ryne Stanek -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
19. Jaime Schultz -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
20. Adrian Rondon -- Extended spring training
21. Kevin Padlo -- Bowling Green Hot Rods (A)
22. Taylor Motter -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
23. Enny Romero -- Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)
24. Andrew Bellatti -- Durham Bulls (AAA)
25. Jake Hager -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
26. Nick Ciuffo -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
27. Jose Mujica -- Bowling Green Hot Rods (A)
28. Kean Wong -- Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
29. Andrew Velazquez -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
30. Riley Unroe -- Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv)
• Complete coverage of Rays prospects on MLBPipeline.com/Rays
Team to watch
Rays fans can't go wrong this season watching either the Durham Bulls or Montgomery Biscuits. Headlined by top prospect Blake Snell, who might not need much more time before getting a crack at the Major Leagues in 2016, the Bulls' roster features Mikie Mahtook, Richie Shaffer, Ryan Brett and Andrew Bellatti, each of whom received their first tastes of the big leagues last season, as well as right-hander Jaime Schultz, who did not yield a run over 8 2/3 innings in big league camp this spring. The Biscuits' roster might be more intriguing, though, as 10 of the Rays' Top 30 prospects and seven of their Top 15 are projected to begin the season in the Southern League. The group includes pitching prospects Taylor Guerrieri, Jacob Faria, Chih-Wei Hu and Ryne Stanek, and highly touted young hitters Willy Adames, Jake Bauers and Casey Gillaspie.
Where teams' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Durham Bulls
Montgomery Biscuits
New faces
The Rays acquired third baseman Kevin Padlo along with Corey Dickerson from the Rockies in the Jake McGee trade in late January. Padlo, a fifth-round Draft pick out of high school in 2014, thrived in the Northwest League last season, pacing the circuit in doubles (22) and ranking second in slugging percentage (.502) and steals (33). He'll begin the 2016 season at Class A Bowling Green of the Midwest League.
On the shelf
Justin O'Conner, the Rays' top catching prospect, did not get a chance to participate in big league camp this spring after he was diagnosed with a slightly herniated disk in his back on Feb. 21. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks, he'll begin the season on the disabled list for the Biscuits.