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

1. James Wood (MLB No. 17), OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
2. Robert Hassell III (MLB No. 35), OF -- Injured (hand)
3. Elijah Green (MLB No. 46), OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
4. Cade Cavalli (MLB No. 58), RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
5. Brady House, 3B -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
6. Jarlin Susana, RHP -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
7. Cristhian Vaquero, OF -- Extended spring training
8. Jeremy De La Rosa, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
9. Jake Bennett, LHP -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
10. T.J. White, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
11. Jackson Rutledge, RHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
12. Thaddeus Ward, RHP -- Washington (MLB)
13. Cole Henry, RHP -- Injured (Thoracic outlet syndrome rehab)
14. Armando Cruz, SS -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
15. Andry Lara, RHP -- Wilmington (High-A)
16. Daylen Lile, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
17. Roismar Quintana, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
18. Zach Brzykcy, RHP -- Injured (forearm strain)
19. Trey Lipscomb, 3B -- Wilmington (High-A)
20. Jake Irvin, RHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
21. Matt Cronin, LHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
22. Israel Pineda, C -- Injured (right finger fracture)
23. Brenner Cox, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
24. Mitchell Parker, LHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
25. Jared McKenzie, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
26. Jose A. Ferrer, LHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
27. Jake Alu, 3B -- Rochester (Triple-A) -- injured list
28. Gerardo Carrillo, RHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
29. Aldo Ramirez, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
30. Drew Millas, C -- Harrisburg (Double-A)

Team to watch
Fredericksburg could prove to be the Single-A club most loaded with tools come its Opening Day on Friday. The FredNats have a terrific headliner in 2023 fifth overall pick Elijah Green, an outfielder with plus power, speed and fielding tools who could go supernova if he learns to make more contact at the plate. Jarlin Susana brings a fastball that’s touched 103 to the rotation. Brady House – the 2022 first-rounder – will be worth following too. A back issue limited his playing time and ability to tap into his 60-grade pop in his first full season, but he returns to the Carolina League healthy and amid a position change to third base.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Washington Nationals
Triple-A Rochester
Double-A Harrisburg
Single-A Fredericksburg

Players we could see in MLB in 2023
While the biggest names are at least a year away, the Nats could see some contributors this summer. Thaddeus Ward has already made the big club as perhaps the most talented prospect in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, and Matt Cronin, Zach Brzykcy and Jose A. Ferrer should all stand to join him in the Washington bullpen at various points in the months ahead. Jake Alu, who opens the season on the Rochester IL, could be an infield depth option in his age-26 season.

New faces
James Wood and Jarlin Susana -- along with the injured Robert Hassell III -- all got some time in the Washington system last year after their inclusion in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade, but their participation over a full season will be hotly anticipated across the DC area. Daylen Lile isn’t new, per se, as a 2021 second-rounder, but he’ll notably join a non-complex affiliate for the first time after missing out last year due to Tommy John surgery. His above-average hit tool from the left side could lead to some impressive numbers out of the gate with Fredericksburg.

On the shelf
Hassell is still on the mend from a spring injury and is expected to be back with Harrisburg roughly two weeks after his Senators teammates. Cavalli was set to crack the Nats rotation out of spring but suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery and will knock him out until 2024. Cole Henry is still returning from last year’s surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, but he had been throwing this offseason. He opens the season on the Rochester IL.