Where the Giants' Top 30 prospects are starting season

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

1. Kyle Harrison (MLB No. 18), LHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
2. Marco Luciano (MLB No. 22), SS -- Extended spring training (lower back)
3. Grant McCray, OF -- Eugene (High-A)
4. Casey Schmitt, 3B -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
5. Vaun Brown, OF -- Extended spring training (knee surgery rehab)
6. Aeverson Arteaga, SS -- Eugene (High-A)
7. Luis Matos, OF -- Richmond (Double-A)
8. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP -- San Jose (Single-A)
9. Reggie Crawford, LHP -- Extended spring training (Tommy John rehab)
10. Mason Black, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
11. Patrick Bailey, C -- Richmond (Double-A)
12. Eric Silva, RHP -- Eugene (High-A)
13. Landen Roupp, RHP -- Extended spring training
14. Keaton Winn, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
15. Jairo Pomares, OF -- Extended spring training (quad strain)
16. Will Bednar, RHP -- Extended spring training (lower back)
17. Carson Seymour, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
18. Trevor McDonald, RHP -- Extended spring training
19. Adrian Sugastey, C -- Eugene (High-A)
20. Heliot Ramos, OF -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
21. Cole Waites, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
22. Ryan Reckley, SS -- Extended spring training
23. Rayner Arias, OF -- Extended spring training
24. Brett Wisely, INF -- San Francisco (MLB)*
25. R.J. Dabovich, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
26. Randy Rodríguez, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
27. Ryan Murphy, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
28. Spencer Miles, RHP -- Extended spring training (back)
29. Hayden Birdsong, RHP -- San Jose (Single-A)
30. Jose Cruz, RHP -- Eugene (High-A)

*Wisely made San Francisco's Opening Day roster, then was sent to Sacramento on April 1.

Team to watch
Triple-A Sacramento features the game's best left-handed pitching prospect in Kyle Harrison and the Minors' top defender at third base in Casey Schmitt. Keaton Winn and Cole Waites can push their fastballs to triple digits, with fellow right-hander R.J. Dabovich right behind with a peak of 99 mph.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
San Francisco Giants
Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A)
Eugene Emeralds (High-A)
San Jose Giants (Single-A)

Players we could see in MLB in 2023
Harrison led the Minors in strikeouts per nine innings (14.8) and strikeout percentage (39.8) last year and could crack San Francisco's rotation in the near future. If Schmitt continues to develop at the plate like he did in 2022, he could take David Villar's job at the hot corner. Winn, Waites and Dabovich all could be bullpen reinforcements.

New faces
Left-hander Reggie Crawford, the Giants' 2022 first-round pick, broke into pro ball with 19 at-bats in Rookie ball last summer while recovering from Tommy John surgery. San Francisco drafted him as a pitcher, however, and he'll make his mound debut this season. Dominican outfielder Rayner Arias drew comparisons to a young Eloy Jiménez before signing for $2,697,500 in January.

On the shelf
Shortstop Marco Luciano (stress fracture in lower back), outfielder Vaun Brown (minor right knee surgery), Crawford (Tommy John rehab) and right-hander Will Bednar (stress reaction in lower back) all are dealing with maladies that affected them last year. Outfielder Jairo Pomares (quad strain) and righty Spencer Miles (back) are in extended spring training recovering from issues that cropped up more recently. Righties Landon Roupp and Trevor McDonald are building up arm strength in extended spring training.