Where the Cardinals' Top 30 prospects are starting season

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Cardinals’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:

1. Jordan Walker (MLB No. 3), OF -- St. Louis (MLB)
2. Masyn Winn (MLB No. 49), SS -- Memphis (Triple-A)
3. Tink Hence (MLB No. 76), RHP -- Peoria (High-A)
4. Gordon Graceffo (MLB No. 78), RHP -- Memphis (Triple-A)
5. Alec Burleson (MLB No. 90), OF -- St. Louis (MLB)
6. Matthew Liberatore, LHP -- Memphis (Triple-A)
7. Cooper Hjerpe, LHP -- Peoria (High-A)
8. Michael McGreevy, RHP -- Springfield (Double-A)
9. Ivan Herrera, C -- Memphis (Triple-A)
10. Jonathan Mejia, SS -- Extended spring training
11. Leonardo Bernal, C -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
12. Joshua Baez, OF -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
13. Brycen Mautz, LHP -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
14. Moisés Gómez, OF -- Memphis (Triple-A)
15. Pete Hansen, LHP -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
16. Jimmy Crooks, C -- Peoria (High-A)
17. Connor Thomas, LHP -- Memphis (Triple-A)
18. Inohan Paniagua, RHP -- Peoria (High-A) injured list
19. Max Rajcic, RHP -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
20. Austin Love, RHP -- Peoria (High-A)
21. Alec Willis, RHP -- Extended spring training
22. Won-Bin Cho, OF -- Palm Beach (Single-A)
23. Mike Antico, OF -- Springfield (Double-A)
24. Jake Walsh, RHP -- Memphis (Triple-A)
25. Ian Bedell, RHP -- Peoria (High-A)
26. Ryan Loutos, RHP -- Springfield (Double-A)
27. Dionys Rodriguez, RHP -- Peoria (High-A)
28. Victor Scott II, OF -- Peoria (High-A)
29. Andre Granillo, RHP -- Springfield (Double-A)
30. Guillermo Zuñiga, RHP -- Memphis (Triple-A)

Team to watch
Three of St. Louis’ top six prospects open the season at the Minors’ highest level and arrive in Memphis at various stages of their careers. Masyn Winn and Gordon Graceffo join Triple-A for the first time and will have plenty to prove in the International League before truly pushing for the Majors. Matthew Liberatore is a Memphis Redbird for his third straight campaign as he tries to elbow his way back into the Cardinals' rotation. Early returns showing increased velocity and an impressive curveball should help his cause. Elsewhere, last year’s Minor League home run leader Moisés Gómez brings his signature power back to Triple-A, while offseason addition Guillermo Zuñiga can keep the loud tools coming with a triple-digit heater.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Triple-A Memphis
Double-A Springfield
High-A Peoria

Players we could see in MLB in 2023
Liberatore should make for a quick call back to the bigs whenever the Cardinals’ Major League rotation depth is tested. The signing of Willson Contreras may have complicated Ivan Herrera’s potential to be an everyday backstop in St. Louis, but he’ll still get looks when the big club needs catching help. Jake Walsh, Ryan Loutos and Zuñiga could all be Major League bullpen options in short order, especially Zuñiga after he was signed to a Major League deal in the offseason. Winn and Graceffo still have longer roads of development ahead, but their ceilings are undeniable. Both could provide boosts to the MLB roster down the stretch in what could be a close NL Central race.

New faces
Zuñiga signed a Major League deal with the Cardinals in the offseason, despite having never played above Double-A. He gave St. Louis fans a taste of what could come by touching 102 mph for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic, tying him with Shohei Ohtani for the fastest pitch in the tournament. Elsewhere, last year’s first-rounder Cooper Hjerpe will make his organizational debut with High-A Peoria after not pitching in the pros in his Draft season.

On the shelf
Inohan Paniagua will open the season on the Peoria injured list with an undisclosed injury, per the Cardinals. The 23-year-old right-hander had a 2.81 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings last season between two A-ball levels but went unprotected and unpicked in last year’s Rule 5 Draft when he became eligible.