MANCHESTER, N.H. – They were penciled in fifth and sixth in the Portland Sea Dogs’ lineup Friday night.

But just as they have done in the Red Sox system, Sam Travis and Manuel Margot figure to move up.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how they impact this team,” Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon said.

Travis and Margot are the first upper-tier prospects to arrive in Portland this season, in time for a seven-game homestand starting Saturday night.

Margot, 20, a center fielder, is ranked Boston’s seventh-best prospect according to Baseball America. The publication annually ranks minor leaguers in each organization. Of Boston’s top 10 prospects, only Margot and third baseman Rafael Devers (No. 6) are below Triple-A. Devers is in Class A Greenville.

Signed when he was 16 out of the Dominican Republic, Margot received an $800,000 bonus.

Travis, 21, a first baseman, is ranked the 12th. Drafted in the second round last year out of the University of Indiana, Travis signed for $850,000.

He’s a rarity among Red Sox prospects, reaching Double-A in his first full pro season, joining Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Travis Shaw, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Deven Marrero among everyday players.

Margot reminds scouts of Bradley because of his superb instincts in center field.

“He takes a lot of pride in his defense,” said Chad Epperson, Boston’s roving catching instructor.

Epperson was in Manchester to see recently promoted catcher Jake Romanski, but notices other talent when making the rounds. Margot’s ability in advanced Class A Salem was obvious.

“The biggest thing in watching him play is he competes every single time you see him. He grinds out his AB’s,” Epperson said. “He’s got big-time tools.”

In Salem, Margot was batting .282 with a .741 OPS (.321 on-base percentage and .420 slugging average) and three home runs. He struck out only 15 times in 181 at-bats.

Margot, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, missed three weeks in May with a shoulder injury. Since coming back in June, he batted .316/.815 OPS with two doubles, two triples and two home runs.

“His talent on the field is unquestioned,” said Sea Dogs infielder Reed Gragnani, a Salem teammate last year. “He’s a special kid. The way he goes about his business every day. He’s such a good teammate. He encourages guys and genuinely wants other guys to do well. That’s rare in a 20-year-old.”

In five games with the Sea Dogs, Margot is batting .238 (5 for 21) with a double. On Friday, he went 1 for 4 with two hard line drives – one for an out to left, the other a single to right.

“Although Margot’s numbers don’t reflect it, he’s had real good at-bats,” McMillon said.

Travis played his second game with the Sea Dogs on Friday. He went 1 for 4 with a double Thursday and 0 for 3 on Friday, including an eight-pitch walk.

When Travis began pro ball last year, he was hitting .167/.367 OPS in his first eight games for short-season Lowell. He adjusted and hit .333/.814 in 40 games before a promotion to Greenville, where he hit .290/.818.

Travis, 6-foot, 220, began this year in Salem and was batting .171 with three extra-base hits on April 24.

“You’ve got to think it’s a game of failure. It’s all about making adjustments and keep moving forward,” Travis said. “It’s all about what you’re going to do that next pitch.

“I had to adjust. Mainly I just lay off bad pitches. I consider myself an aggressive hitter. But you have to be aggressive and patient at the same time.

“Once I went back to slowing the game down, having fun and trying to win games, that’s kind of when things came back together.”

Travis was chosen for the Advanced Class A All-Star Game. He had raised his average to .313/.845 OPS with 15 doubles, four triples and five home runs.

“He’s got the ability to find the ball with the barrel,” Epperson said. “It’s a good sound off the bat when that young man squares one up.”

Margot and Travis bat right-handed. The left-field wall at Hadlock awaits.