Where Sox Top 30 prospects are starting '21

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

1) Triston Casas (MLB No. 36), 1B -- Portland (Double-A)
2) Jeter Downs (MLB No. 41), SS/2B -- Worcester (Triple-A)
3) Jarren Duran (MLB No. 98), OF -- Worcester (Triple-A)
4) Bryan Mata, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
5) Gilberto Jimenez, OF -- Salem (Low-A)
6) Tanner Houck, RHP -- Worcester (Triple-A)
7) Jay Groome, LHP -- Greenville (High-A)
8) Nick Yorke, 2B -- Salem (Low-A)
9) Thad Ward, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)
10) Blaze Jordan, 3B -- Extended Spring Training
11) Ronaldo Hernandez, C -- Portland (Double-A)
12) Matthew Lugo, SS -- Salem (Low-A)
13) Noah Song, RHP -- Inactive (U.S. Navy flight training)
14) Connor Seabold, RHP -- Worcester (Triple-A)
15) Brainer Bonaci, SS -- Extended Spring Training
16) Connor Wong, C/2B/3B -- Worcester (Triple-A)
17) Chris Murphy, LHP -- Greenville (High-A)
18) Brayan Bello, RHP -- Greenville (High-A)
19) Aldo Ramirez, RHP -- Salem (Low-A)
20) Chih-Jung Liu, RHP -- Extended Spring Training
21) Jeisson Rosario, OF -- Portland (Double-A)
22) Nick Decker, OF -- Salem (Low-A)
23) Hudson Potts, 3B/2B -- Injured (oblique)
24) Juan Chacon, OF -- Dominican complex
25) Cameron Cannon, SS -- Greenville (High-A)
26) Andrew Politi, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)
27) Eduard Bazardo, RHP -- Worcester (Triple-A)
28) Jacob Wallace, RHP -- Greenville (High-A)
29) Garrett Whitlock, RHP -- Boston (MLB)
30) Frank German, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)

Team to watch

Boston's new Triple-A Worcester affiliate features two of the system's three Top 100 Prospects in middle infielder Jeter Downs and outfielder Jarren Duran, plus its best healthy pitcher in right-hander Tanner Houck. Right-hander Connor Seabold and catcher Connor Wong both were acquired in trades last year and could surface in Boston at some point this season. Seabold¸ who's opening the season on the seven-day Injured List with elbow inflammation, has the best changeup and is one of the best strike throwers among Red Sox farmhands.

Teams on MiLB.TV

Triple-A Worcester
Double-A Portland
High-A Greenville
Low-A Salem

New faces

Right-hander Garrett Whitlock has been sensational since the Red Sox plucked him from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft in December, allowing just one run in his first 14 1/3 big league innings. Catcher Ronaldo Hernandez and right-hander Frank German, picked up in offseason deals with the Rays and Yankees, will team up together at Double-A Portland.

On the shelf

Right-hander Bryan Mata, the organization's top pitching prospect, will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery in April. Righty Noah Song, who has one of the highest ceilings in the system, isn't hurt but is inactive while he attends Navy flight school. Third baseman/second baseman Hudson Potts is rehabbing an oblique injury and should join an upper-level team later this month.