Where Twins' Top 30 prospects are starting season

April 4th, 2018

With the 2018 season getting started, here's a look at where the Twins' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Royce Lewis (MLB No. 20), SS -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
2. (MLB No. 68), RHP -- Rochester Red Wings (AAA)
3. (MLB No. 79), LHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
4. (MLB No. 81), SS/2B -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
5. Wander Javier, SS -- Extended spring training
6. Alex Kirilloff, OF -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
7. Brusdar Graterol, RHP -- Extended spring training
8. Brent Rooker, OF/1B -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
9. Blayne Enlow, RHP -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
10. Lewin Diaz, 1B -- Fort Myers Miracle (A Adv)
11. Akil Baddoo, OF -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
12. , LHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
13. , OF -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
14. Travis Blankenhorn, 3B -- Fort Myers Miracle (A Adv)
15. , RHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
16. Tyler Jay, LHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
17. , RHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA) - DL
18. Kohl Stewart, RHP -- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
19. , C -- Minnesota Twins (MLB)
20. Andrew Bechtold, 3B -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
21. , RHP -- Rochester Red Wings (AAA)
22. Tyler Watson, LHP -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
23. Luis Arraez, INF -- Fort Myers Miracle (A Adv) - DL
24. Ben Rortvedt, C -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
25. Jacob Pearson, OF -- Extended spring training
26. Jake Cave, OF -- Rochester Red Wings (AAA)
27. , OF -- Rochester Red Wings (AAA)
28. Jose Miranda, INF -- Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
29. Landon Leach, RHP -- Extended spring training
30. Yunior Severino, 2B -- Extended spring training
Twins prospect coverage | Twins Top 30 prospects stats
Team to watch
When everyone is healthy, Double-A Chattanooga leads the way with nine Top 30 prospects, but the ceiling in Class A Cedar Rapids is just too much to pass up. It starts with top prospect, and 2017 No. 1 overall pick Royce Lewis, but it also includes 2016 first-rounder Alex Kirilloff, the outfielder who missed 2017 because of Tommy John surgery, and 2017 third-rounder Blayne Enlow, the exciting right-hander, who got $2 million to sign last summer. All three are in the organization's top 10.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2018 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Rochester Red Wings
Cedar Rapids Kernels
New faces
A third-round pick of the Angels last June, toolsy outfielder Jacob Pearson struggled a bit during his pro debut in the rookie-level Arizona League. But the Twins liked his power-speed potential heading into the Draft and were happy to get him in return for international bonus pool money. He'll hang back in Extended spring training awaiting assignment.
Outfielder Jake Cave had a chance to stick with the Reds as a Rule 5 pick, but was sent back to the Yankees. He made it up to Triple-A in New York's system last year, one of his best. But when the Yankees designated him for assignment, the Twins swooped in and acquired him for right-hander Luis Gil. He'll start the year in Rochester.
Infielder Yunior Severino was one of the players declared a free agent by Major League Baseball in the wake of the Braves international signing scandal. The Twins were thrilled to bring him into the fold for $2.5 million and will likely send him to a rookie level later this summer.
On the shelf
Right-hander Felix Jorge was slated to begin the year with Chatttanooga, but triceps soreness will delay his 2018 debut. Second baseman Luis Arraez tore his ACL three games into his 2017 season and is still working his way back. The hope is he'll join Fort Myers in mid-May.