Here's where Cubs Top 30 prospects are starting '22

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

1) Brennen Davis (MLB No. 15), OF -- Iowa (Triple-A)
2) Cristian Hernandez (MLB No. 92), SS -- Extended spring training
3) James Triantos, 2B -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
4) Caleb Kilian, RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
5) Jordan Wicks, LHP -- South Bend (High-A)
6) Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
7) Kevin Alcantara, OF -- Extended spring training
8) Owen Caissie, OF -- South Bend (High-A)
9) DJ Herz, LHP -- South Bend (High-A)
10) Brailyn Marquez, LHP -- Extended spring training
11) Reginald Preciado, 3B -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A)
12) Kohl Franklin, RHP -- South Bend (High-A)
13) Miguel Amaya, C -- Tennessee (Double-A) -- injured list (Tommy John surgery)
14) Ed Howard, SS -- South Bend (High-A)
15) Kevin Made, SS -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A) -- injured list (elbow)
16) Nelson Velazquez, OF -- Tennessee (Double-A)
17) Ryan Jensen, RHP -- Tennessee (Double-A)
18) Alexander Canario, OF -- South Bend (High-A)
19) Christian Franklin, OF -- Myrtle Beach (Single-A) -- injured list (knee)
20) Yohendrick Pinango, OF -- South Bend (High-A)
21) Christopher Morel, OF -- Tennessee (Double-A)
22) Pablo Aliendo, C -- South Bend (High-A)
23) Alfonso Rivas, 1B -- Chicago (MLB)
24) Drew Gray, LHP -- Extended spring training -- injured (Tommy John surgery)
25) Jordan Nwogu, OF -- Extended spring training
26) Chase Strumpf, 2B -- Tennessee (Double-A)
27) Daniel Palencia, RHP -- South Bend (High-A)
28) Ben Leeper, RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
29) Cayne Ueckert, RHP -- Iowa (Triple-A)
30) Ethan Roberts, RHP -- Chicago (MLB)

Team to watch
High-A South Bend is the home to many of Chicago's best pitching prospects in left-handers Jordan Wicks and DJ Herz and right-hander Kohl Franklin. Slugging outfielders Owen Caissie and Alexander Canario power the lineup, while shortstop Ed Howard is one of the slickest fielders anywhere in the Minors.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A Iowa
Double-A Tennessee
High-A South Bend
Single-A Myrtle Beach

New faces
Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was already out for the 2021 season following surgery on his non-throwing shoulder when the Cubs acquired him from the Mets last July in exchange for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams. The 19th overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Crow-Armstrong will make his organization debut at Single-A Myrtle Beach.

On the shelf
Left-hander Brailyn Marquez arrived late in Spring Training after coming down with COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic, and he's building up arm strength in advance of an upper-level assignment. Miguel Amaya had Tommy John surgery last November and won't catch during the season, though he may be able to DH by midsummer. Shortstop Kevin Made is on the Single-A Myrtle Beach injured list with elbow soreness but should be ready to play by mid-April. Two 2021 Draft picks, third-round left-hander Drew Gray (Tommy John surgery) and fourth-round outfielder Christian Franklin (torn patellar tendon in left knee), will miss the entire season after getting hurt while training in Mesa, Ariz.

Toolsy outfielders Kevin Alcantara and Jordan Nwogu aren't injured but are spending a few days in extended spring training before moving to Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend, respectively.