Infielder Edwin Diaz is one of 10 players returning to Beloit for the start of the 2017 season. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

Right-handed pitcher Dakota Chalmers is the top Oakland Athletics prospect assigned to the Beloit Snappers for the start of the 2017 season.

Chalmers, a third-round draft pick out of high school in 2015, is ranked No. 16 among A’s prospects, according to Baseball America. He went 5-4 with a 4.70 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 37 walks in 67 innings/15 games/13 starts for the short-season Vermont Lake Monsters in 2016, his second pro season.

Chalmers is the only ranked prospect assigned to Beloit, but here are some other Snappers players to keep an eye on:

First baseman Miguel Mercedes led the New York-Penn League in homers (12) and drove in 43 runs last season.

Speedy outfielder Cole Gruber led the Arizona Rookie League with 28 stolen bases last season. He drew 24 walks in 35 games, but batted only .214.

RHP Boomer Biegalski is one of 10 players returning to Beloit. He went 8-8 with a 3.70 ERA, 115 strikeouts and 38 walks in 153.1 innings/28 games/25 starts. He pitched in last year’s Midwest League All-Star Game.

Catchers Jason Goldstein and Collin Theroux may sound like familiar names to Beloit-area fans who have gone to Northwoods League games in Madison the past few years. Goldstein played for the Mallards in 2013 and 2015; Theroux played for them in 2015. Both are entering their second seasons as pro ballplayers.

You can see the entire Snappers roster here, and read about the team’s coaching staff here and here.

Beloit Snappers catcher Jason Goldstein connects for a hit when he played for the Madison Mallards in 2013. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)