Chattanooga Times Free Press

Lookouts host season opener against Rocket City

- BY DAVID PASCHALL STAFF WRITER

“You need to buy your tickets now, because this is going to be a really exciting group. There are some names that are going to jump out to people, and there is going to be a little something for everyone.”

– CINCINNATI REDS DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMEN­T ERIC LEE

Cincinnati Reds director of player developmen­t Eric Lee has spent recent days and weeks assembling the opening roster of the Class AA Chattanoog­a Lookouts.

His advice to those heading back to AT&T Field after last season was shelved due to the coronaviru­s? See the Lookouts early and often, and don’t forget about the early part.

“You need to buy your tickets now, because this is going to be a really exciting group,” Lee said Monday afternoon. “There are some names that are going to jump out to people, and there is going to be a little something for everyone. This group will have a lot of athleticis­m that makes this game exciting, whether on the defensive side of things, running the bases or playing aggressive­ly in the right way.

“The purpose of this game is to score runs, and I think we have a lot of guys who embody that.”

The Lookouts are scheduled to open their 120-game season tonight against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, weather permitting, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15.

Chattanoog­a has three of MLB.com’s top five Reds organizati­onal prospects with starting pitchers Nick Lodolo (No. 1) and Hunter Greene (No. 2) and shortstop Jose Garcia (No. 5). Garcia is a defensive wizard who played 24 games with Cincinnati last season, but he

produced just a .194 batting average with two RBIs.

“Night to night, you’re going to see one of the best young prospects in our organizati­on and in all of baseball,” Lee said. “He is a true shortstop defensivel­y and is one of the best shortstops in minor league baseball. He got to the big leagues last year based off what he demonstrat­ed in summer camp and then at our alternate site, and offensivel­y, he has made big strides.

“You’re talking about a kid who in 2019 was in low-A, and we know we have a special, special player who will be back in Cincinnati and playing shortstop for us every day in a short amount of time. There is just some seasoning that needs to occur, and we’re confident that will happen in Chattanoog­a.”

Lodolo and Greene are former first-round picks of the Reds who participat­ed in bigleague spring training back in March, and Lee is planning on each to perform very well for the Lookouts, adding, “We expect them to be knocking on the door of the big leagues here very, very soon.”

When asked if he witnessed Greene throwing 105 miles per hour early last month, Lee laughed and said, “I was not there the first time.” Lee doesn’t, however, believe that Greene has technicall­y reached 105 just yet.

“I’ve told him that we don’t round up in the big leagues,” Lee said. “I believe what we all saw on video was 104.9, so he still has one click to go, because we don’t round up in the Reds organizati­on.”

Lee predicted that the power

aspect to this season’s Lookouts will be headed by Wilson Garcia and Robbie Tenerowicz, who have spent their careers in other organizati­ons until now.

 ?? CINCINNATI REDS PHOTO ?? Shortstop Jose Garcia could be the first Chattanoog­a Lookouts player this season who gets promoted to the Cincinnati Reds.
CINCINNATI REDS PHOTO Shortstop Jose Garcia could be the first Chattanoog­a Lookouts player this season who gets promoted to the Cincinnati Reds.

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