The prospects are coming to Hadlock Field this weekend.

But they won’t be in the home dugout.

Some of the New York Yankees’ most promising minor leaguers are on the Trenton Thunder, who begin a four-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Four of the Yankees’ top five prospects, according to Baseball America, play for Trenton. That includes No. 1 Luis Severino, a right-handed pitcher who will start Friday night’s game.

Severino, 21, is 1-0 in two starts with a 0.90 ERA. He shows a 97 mph fastball, excellent change-up and a slider.

Outfielder Aaron Judge (No. 2) will be easily spotted, at 6-foot-7, 275 pounds. In a three-game series against Portland last week in Trenton, Judge went 5 for 13 with a double and a home run. He turns 23 on Sunday.

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First-baseman Greg Bird (No. 4) reached Trenton last year in his third pro season out of high school. He is only 22. Bird, 6-3, 220, is off to a slow start, batting .200 with one home run.

Catcher Gary Sanchez (No. 5) hit 270/.744 OPS for Trenton last year but, reportedly, is back in Double-A to work more on his defense.

Some of Trenton’s other top players include two third basemen – Eric Jagielo (No. 11), hitting .311/.982 with three home runs; and Dante Bichette (first-round draft pick, 2011, and son of the former major leaguer), who is batting .260/.728.

Outfielder Mason Williams (No. 30) used to be the Yankees’ top prospect until struggling the past two years. He’s doing well in 2015 (.310/.705 with six stolen bases).

MOST OF the top Boston Red Sox prospects are in Triple-A Pawtucket, and none is doing better than left-handed starter Brian Johnson (2-1, 0.56 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP). Johnson pitched a two-hit shutout in a seven-inning game Tuesday, part of a doubleheader with Buffalo. Johnson had two shorter outings (five and four innings), but needed only 90 pitches Tuesday.

Another lefty, Eduardo Rodriguez, matches Johnson in WHIP (0.86) after two games. He’s 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA.

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If Boston needed an emergency starter from Triple-A, the Red Sox might choose either lefty – although Johnson would require a roster move since he is not on the 40-man roster.

DEVEN MARRERO may be the best fielding shortstop in the Red Sox organization, but he has also been taking ground balls at second and third base before games, according to the Providence Journal. Marrero, who is not yet on the 40-man roster, may be considered for call-up if any Boston infielder goes down. He is batting .257 with a .786 OPS.

TWO PAWTUCKET outfielders are doing just fine: Jackie Bradley Jr. (.321 with a .788 OPS) and Bryce Brentz (308/.931 with three home runs).

Who would get called up if there was a vacancy in Boston (and with Rusney Castillo unavailable with a sore shoulder)? Both are on the 40-man roster.

My guess is that the Red Sox want to see Bradley establish consistency at the plate before giving him another chance in the majors, where he has a .196 average. But if Boston needed someone in center, the call goes to Bradley.

TWO SALEM outfielders may be knocking at the Double-A door. The better-known player, Manuel Margot, 20, is off to a great start, batting .357/1.010, with two doubles, three triples and one home run. Margot, ranked as Boston’s seventh-best prospect by Baseball America, also has five stolen bases.

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Aneury Tavarez, 22, is in his second season in Salem. In 11 games, he’s batting .342/.790.

RIGHT-HANDER JACOB Dahlstrand is off to a 3-0 start in Salem, following Wednesday’s three-hit outing over seven innings, allowing one unearned run.

While the trend in the minors is for some starters to eventually become relievers, Dahlstrand moved out of the pen late last year. Dahlstrand, 23, was 3-0 in six games last year. He is still unbeaten, carrying a 0.95 ERA and 0.68 WHIP this season.

THE SEA DOGS begin their second homestand Thursday, led by corner infielder Jantzen Witte (.349/.850 and 13 RBI in 12 games).

Portland recently made two roster moves, placing shortstop Marco Hernandez and outfielder Henry Ramos on the disabled list, although the specific injuries were not announced. Replacing them on the roster were catcher Tim Roberson (activated from the DL) and outfielder Oscar Tejeda (promoted from Salem). Tejeda is in his second stint with the Sea Dogs, having signed a minor league free agent contract with the Red Sox in the offseason.

NEW ENGLAND Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler will appear at Monday’s game. He will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and be available for autographs.


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