Chattanooga Times Free Press

WORLD FAMOUS

Dodgers are loaded with former Chattanoog­a players

- BY DAVID PASCHALL STAFF WRITER

Perhaps it always will be difficult for Chattanoog­a-area residents to root for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a World Series, given that the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers were not the friendlies­t of roommates in the National League West Division from 1969 to 1993.

Houston, of course, was also in the NL West during that time, but when was the last time you heard a Braves fan lamenting over the Astros of yesteryear?

Yet there is no contest in this World Series, which starts tonight, when it comes to Chattanoog­a connection­s. Rick Honeycutt is a Lakeview High School and University of Tennessee graduate who is in his 12th season as Dodgers pitching coach, having worked under managers Grady Little, Joe Torre, Don Mattingly and now Dave Roberts.

This season’s Dodgers also are overrun with former Chattanoog­a Lookouts, with seven former AT&T Field standouts having helped Los Angeles reach the Fall Classic for the first time since 1988. The Lookouts were Class AA affiliates of the Dodgers from 2009 to 2014, and Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was a seventh-round pick of Cincinnati in 2006 and played for the Lookouts in 2008 during their 21st and final season as Reds affiliates.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreep­ress.com or 423-757-6524.

JUSTIN TURNER

Then: Turner had a lot less facial hair in 2008 but was plenty productive, as the Lookouts second baseman hit .289 with 42 RBIs in 78 games. Now: Playing third for the Dodgers, Turner hit .322 in 130 games this season and has hit .387 so far this postseason.

YASIEL PUIG

Then: Puig hit .313 with 37 RBIs in 40 games for the 2013 Lookouts. He was arrested that spring for driving 97 mph down Amnicola Highway but had the case dismissed later that year. Now: Puig has hit .263 each of the past two seasons but is hitting .414 in these playoffs.

KENLEY JANSEN

Then: Jansen was a star for the 2010 Lookouts, going 4-0 with a 1.67 earned run average in 25 appearance­s. Now: In 474 career big-league games, Jansen has 230 saves and a 2.08 ERA. He is in the first year of a five-year contract totaling $80 million.

COREY SEAGER

Then: Seager showed up in Chattanoog­a late in the 2014 season, hitting .345 with 27 RBIs in 38 games. Now: In 329 games in three seasons with Los Angeles, Seager has a .305 average and is a twotime All-Star shortstop. He did not play in the NLCS due to a back injury.

JOC PEDERSON

Then: Pederson hit .278 with 58 RBIs in 123 games with the 2013 Lookouts. Now: In 408 big-league games, Pederson has experience­d his ups and downs in posting a .222 career average. The outfielder was added to the Dodgers’ roster for the NLCS when Seager couldn’t play.

ROSS STRIPLING

Then: In 21 appearance­s with the 2013 Lookouts, including 16 starts, Stripling went 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA. Now: Stripling went 3-5 during the regular season with a 3.75 ERA in 49 appearance­s. He tallied 74 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched.

PEDRO BAEZ

Then: Baez arrived as a third baseman but became a pitcher for the Lookouts, going 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA in 16 games in 2013 and 2-1 with a 2.79 in 17 games in 2014. Now: Baez went 3-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 66 games this season but was not on the roster for the NLCS.

 ??  ?? YASIEL PUIG IN 2013
YASIEL PUIG IN 2013
 ??  ?? PEDRO BAEZ IN 2011
PEDRO BAEZ IN 2011
 ??  ?? JUSTIN TURNER IN 2008
JUSTIN TURNER IN 2008
 ??  ?? ROSS STRIPLING IN 2013
ROSS STRIPLING IN 2013
 ??  ?? KENLEY JANSEN IN 2010
KENLEY JANSEN IN 2010
 ??  ?? COREY SEAGER IN 2014
COREY SEAGER IN 2014
 ??  ?? JOC PEDERSON IN 2013
JOC PEDERSON IN 2013

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