Where CLE Top 30 prospects are starting '21

With the Minor League season opening on May 4, here's where the Indians' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1) Nolan Jones (MLB No. 30), 3B -- Columbus (Triple-A)
2) Tyler Freeman (MLB No. 85), SS -- Akron (Double-A)
3) Bo Naylor, C (MLB No. 99) -- Akron (Double-A)
4) George Valera, OF (MLB No. 100) -- Lake County (High-A)
5) Gabriel Arias, SS -- Columbus (Triple-A)
6) Daniel Espino, RHP -- Lynchburg (Low-A)
7) Brayan Rocchio, SS -- Lake County (High-A)
8) Aaron Bracho, 2B -- Lake County (High-A)
9) Ethan Hankins, RHP -- Injured (elbow)
10) Josh Wolf, RHP -- Lynchburg (Low-A)
11) Lenny Torres, RHP -- Lynchburg (Low-A)
12) Carson Tucker, SS -- Extended Spring Training
13) Angel Martinez, INF -- Lynchburg (Low-A)
14) Gabriel Rodriguez, SS/3B -- Lynchburg (Low-A)
15) Tanner Burns, RHP -- Lake County (High-A)
16) Owen Miller, SS/2B -- Columbus (Triple-A)
17) Carlos Vargas, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
18) Bobby Bradley, 1B -- Columbus (Triple-A)
19) Daniel Johnson, OF -- Columbus (Triple-A)
20) Isaiah Greene, OF -- Extended Spring Training
21) Petey Halpin, OF -- Extended Spring Training
22) Joey Cantillo, LHP -- Columbus (Triple-A)
23) Logan Allen, LHP -- Lake County (High-A)
24) Jose Tena, SS -- Lake County (High-A)
25) Sam Hentges, LHP -- Cleveland (MLB)
26) Scott Moss, LHP -- Akron (Double-A)
27) Bryan Lavastida, C -- Lake County (High-A)
28) Junior Sanquintin, SS/2B -- Extended Spring Training
29) Milan Tolentino, SS -- Extended Spring Training
30) Nick Sandlin, RHP -- Cleveland (MLB)

Team to watch

Though they have a total of four games of full-season experience between them, the Indians are challenging four advanced hitters -- outfielder George Valera, shortstops Brayan Rocchio and Jose Tena, second baseman Aaron Bracho -- to High-A Lake County. They also sent two of their top three picks in the 2020 Draft, right-hander Tanner Burns (supplemental first round) and left-hander Logan Allen (second), to the Captains.

Teams on MiLB.TV

Triple-A Columbus
Double-A Akron

New faces

Right-hander Josh Wolf, the top prospect acquired in the Francisco Lindor/Carlos Carrasco deal with the Mets in January, will make his Indians debut at Low-A Lynchburg. The other prospect in the trade, outfielder Isaiah Greene, was a supplemental second-round pick out of high school last June and currently is in extended Spring Training.

On the shelf

Two of the Indians' most promising pitching prospects are sidelined with elbow issues. Right-hander Ethan Hankins, a 2018 first-rounder, is being evaluated by team doctors. Righty Carlos Vargas had Tommy John surgery in April that will keep him off the mound until 2022.