Where A's Top 30 prospects are starting '21

With the 2021 season getting started, here's a look at where the A's Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:

1) Tyler Soderstrom (MLB No. 93), C -- Stockton (Low-A)
2) A.J. Puk, LHP -- Injured
3) Nick Allen, SS -- Midland (Double-A)
4) Daulton Jefferies, RHP -- Injured
5) Logan Davidson, SS -- Midland (Double-A)
6) Robert Puason, SS -- Stockton (Low-A)
7) Luis Barrera, OF -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
8) Jeff Criswell, RHP -- Lansing (High-A)
9) Greg Deichmann, OF -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
10) James Kaprielian, RHP -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
11) Junior Perez, OF -- Stockton (Low-A)
12) Jordan Diaz, 3B -- Lansing (High-A)
13) Brayan Buelvas, OF -- Stockton (Low-A)
14) Pedro Pineda, OF -- Extended spring training
15) Grant Holmes, RHP -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
16) Tyler Baum, RHP -- Injured
17) Kyle McCann, C -- Midland (Double-A)
18) Austin Beck, OF -- Lansing (High-A)
19) Lazaro Armenteros, OF -- Stockton (Low-A)
20) Buddy Reed, OF -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
21) Jeremy Eierman, SS -- Midland (Double-A)
22) Wandisson Charles, RHP -- Injured
23) Cody Thomas, OF -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
24) Hogan Harris, LHP -- Injured
25) Miguel Romero, RHP -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
26) Brian Howard, RHP -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
27) Parker Dunshee, RHP -- Las Vegas (Triple-A)
28) Colin Peluse, RHP -- Lansing (High-A)
29) Michael Guldberg, OF -- Lansing (High-A)
30) Drew Millas, C -- Lansing (High-A)

Team to watch

Vegas, baby. The Aviators lead all A’s affiliates with nine Top 30 prospects on the roster, including four of the top 15, and these are the guys who could help the big league team continue to string together wins. If you’re looking for upside, the combination of Tyler Soderstrom and Robert Puason is worth the price of admission in Stockton.

Teams on MiLB.TV

Triple-A Las Vegas
Double-A Midland
High-A Lansing

New faces

The A’s traded Jorge Mateo to the Padres at last year’s Trade Deadline, but they didn’t get the return, Junior Perez, until the fall, so he’ll be making his A’s debut with Stockton this week. Pedro Pineda was No. 13 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects list when the signing period opened on Jan. 15, and the A’s gave him $2.5 million to sign.

On the shelf

A.J. Puk’s biceps issue is keeping him from being on the big league staff (and from graduating from prospect lists). Daulton Jefferies pitched well enough this spring to be considered for a spot in the A’s rotation, but his own biceps tendinitis issue is keeping him from starting the year on the Las Vegas staff.