With the 2017 season getting started, here's a look at where the Tigers' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Matt Manning -- Extended spring camp
2. Christin Stewart -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
3. Beau Burrows -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
4. Tyler Alexander -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
5. Joe Jimenez -- Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)
6. Kyle Funkhouser -- West Michigan Whitecaps (A)
7. Mike Gerber -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
8. Derek Hill -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
9. JaCoby Jones -- Detroit Tigers (MLB)
10. Dixon Machado -- Detroit Tigers (MLB)
11. Sandy Baez -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
12. Jose Azocar -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
13. Adam Ravenelle -- Extended spring training
14. Gerson Moreno -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
15. Spencer Turnbull -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
16. Myles Jaye -- Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)
17. Drew Smith -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
18. Arvicent Perez -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
19. Matt Hall -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
20. Mark Ecker -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
21. Jairo Labourt -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
22. Zach Shepherd -- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A Adv)
23. Artie Lewicki -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
24. Paul Voelker -- Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)
25. Victor Alcantara -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
26. A.J. Simcox -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
27. Daniel Pinero -- West Michigan Whitecaps (A)
28. Wladimir Pinto -- Extended spring training
29. Grayson Greiner -- Erie SeaWolves (AA)
30. Bryan Garcia -- West Michigan Whitecaps (A)
• Complete Tigers prospect coverage on MLBPipeline.com/Tigers
Team to watch
For the second straight year, the Lakeland Flying Tigers open the season with the most Top 30 players on the roster, among Detroit's affiliates. A dozen prospects from the 2017 list will start the year in the Florida State League, six each from the top half and bottom half of the Top 30. The Flying Tigers will include two former first-round picks in Beau Burrows and Derek Hill, but the player to watch might be Jose Azocar, who might have more upside than any position player in the system.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Toledo Mud Hens
Erie SeaWolves
West Michigan Whitecaps
New faces
The Angels spent a good amount of time trying to develop Victor Alcantara as a starting pitcher, but they finally moved him to the bullpen in 2016. He was continuing to work on that transition in the Arizona Fall League when the Tigers acquired him for Cameron Maybin. The right-hander will pitch out of Erie's bullpen to start the 2017 season.
On the shelf
None