Where the Mets' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
With the 2017 season getting started, here's a look at where the Mets' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Amed Rosario -- Las Vegas 51s (AAA)
2. Dominic Smith -- Las Vegas 51s (AAA)
3. Justin Dunn -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
4. Thomas Szapucki -- Rehab/Left shoulder impingement
5. Robert Gsellman -- New York Mets (MLB)
6. Desmond Lindsay -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
7. Gavin Cecchini -- Las Vegas 51s (AAA)
8. Brandon Nimmo -- Disabled list
9. Andres Gimenez -- Extended spring training
10. Peter Alonso -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
11. Tomas Nido -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
12. Wuilmer Becerra -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
13. Anthony Kay -- Rehab/Tommy John surgery
14. Marcos Molina -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
15. Merandy Gonzalez -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
16. Luis Carpio -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
17. Luis Guillorme -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
18. Gregory Guerrero -- Extended spring training
19. Ricardo Cespedes -- Extended spring training
20. Josh Smoker -- New York Mets (MLB)
21. Ali Sanchez -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
22. Jhoan Urena -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
23. Milton Ramos -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
24. P.J. Conlon -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
25. David Thompson -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
26. Chris Flexen -- Disabled list
27. Colby Woodmansee -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
28. Patrick Mazeika -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
29. TJ Rivera -- New York Mets (MLB)
30. Blake Tiberi -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
• Complete Mets' prospect coverage on MLBPipeline.com/Mets
Team to watch
While the St. Lucie Mets have the most Top 30 prospects, eight in total, it's hard not to tell people to head to Vegas. That's because that's where the system's top two prospects are starting the season. Super shortstop Amed Rosario is making the move there, as is first baseman Dominic Smith. Gavin Cecchini gives the 51s a third Top 10 prospect on their roster.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Las Vegas 51s
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Columbia Fireflies
New faces
Anthony Kay, the second of the two Mets' first round-picks in 2016, has yet to throw a professional pitch. Mets fans will have to wait on that because ...
On the shelf
Kay had Tommy John surgery in early October. After a post-Draft physical showed he had an elbow injury, he signed for well below slot value. Like Kay, Thomas Szapucki doesn't have to be listed on a disabled list because he had yet to be put on a full-season roster. But the left-hander is on the shelf as he works his way through a shoulder impingement. Pitcher Chris Flexen is officially on the disabled list with a knee issue and should head to St. Lucie once healthy. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo's days as a prospect might be numbered -- he should contribute to the big league club soon -- but it will have to wait a little bit longer. A strained right hamstring suffered during the World Baseball Classic has landed him on the disabled list to start the season.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanMayo and Facebook, and listen to him on the weekly Pipeline Podcast.