Where Tigers' Top 30 prospects are starting season

With the 2021 season getting started, here's a look at where the Tigers' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:

1) Spencer Torkelson (MLB No. 3), 3B -- West Michigan (High-A)
2) Riley Greene (MLB No. 18), OF -- Erie (Double-A)
3) Matt Manning (MLB No. 21), RHP -- Toledo (Triple-A)
4) Isaac Paredes, 3B -- Toledo (Triple-A)
5) Dillon Dingler, C -- West Michigan (High-A)
6) Daniel Cabrera, OF -- West Michigan (High-A)
7) Joey Wentz, LHP -- Injured (Tommy John recovery)
8) Parker Meadows, OF -- West Michigan (High-A)
9) Daz Cameron, OF -- Toledo (Triple-A)
10) Alex Faedo, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
11) Roberto Campos, OF -- Extended spring training
12) Gage Workman, 3B -- Lakeland (Low-A)
13) Cristian Santana, SS -- Extended spring training
14) Jake Rogers, C -- Toledo (Triple-A)
15) Franklin Pérez RHP -- West Michigan (High-A)
16) Kody Clemens, 2B -- Toledo (Triple-A)
17) Trei Cruz, SS -- West Michigan (High-A)
18) Colt Keith, 3B -- Extended spring training
19) Jose De La Cruz, OF -- Lakeland (Low-A)
20) Adinso Reyes, SS -- Extended spring training
21) Wenceel Perez, SS -- Lakeland (Low-A)
22) Akil Baddoo, OF -- Detroit (MLB)
23) Bryant Packard, OF -- West Michigan (High-A)
24) Zack Short, SS -- Toledo (Triple-A)
25) Ryan Kreidler, SS -- Erie (Double-A)
26) Beau Burrows, RHP -- Toledo (Triple-A)
27) Zack Hess, RHP -- West Michigan (High-A)
28) Nick Quintana, 3B -- Lakeland (Low-A)
29) Alex Lange, RHP -- Detroit (MLB)
30) Jason Foley, RHP -- Toledo (Triple-A)

Team to watch
High-A West Michigan is perhaps the most loaded of the group here, headlined by last year's first overall pick Spencer Torkelson. Fellow 2020 selections Dillon Dingler, Daniel Cabrera and Trei Cruz are similarly skipping over Low-A to begin their first full seasons, while 2018 second-rounder Parker Meadows brings his plus speed and impressive defensive outfield tools to the table. It's going to be a loaded lineup for the Whitecaps.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A Toledo
Double-A Erie
High-A West Michigan

New faces
Having been acquired at last year's deadline, Zack Short is still relatively new to this impressively homegrown system. The 25-year-old infielder has already seen the Majors with Detroit for two games but should get more playing time in Toledo. The former Cub is known best for his defensive abilities at shortstop and can also be an above-average runner on the basepaths.

On the shelf
Joey Wentz and Alex Faedo are at opposite ends of their Tommy John journeys. Wentz underwent the elbow procedure prior to the pandemic shutdown in the spring of 2020 and could return to a Minor League mound later this summer. Faedo had his surgery in December and is expected to miss the entire 2021 season as a result.