Five current members of the Chattanooga Lookouts were born in the 1980s.
All five came up in different organizations before signing with the Minnesota Twins, and all five still have hopes of either getting to the big leagues or getting back to the big leagues.
Infielder Jonathan Rodriguez was a 17th-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 who's in his first season in the Twins organization, and he is taking advantage. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 Sunday evening as the Lookouts continued their mastery of Jacksonville with a 5-2 triumph before a crowd of 2,026 at AT&T Field.
The 27-year-old from San Juan, Puerto Rico, had three hits in Saturday night's win over the Jumbo Shrimp and suddenly leads the Lookouts with a .313 average.
"He's been red hot these last three weeks," Lookouts manager Jake Mauer said Sunday. "He's been in the middle of our lineup for the whole year, and he's really driven the ball well. He's always been an RBI producer, and you're starting to see his average creep up. He's staying to the middle of the field and not worried so much about hitting home runs, because sometimes that can leave you pulling the ball too much.
"He fought that early this season, but if he keeps this middle-of-the-field approach, he's going to put up some really good numbers."
Rodriguez hit .266, .275 and .255 the past three seasons with Springfield (Ark.) in the Double-AA Texas League but has flourished with his change of scenery. He is hitting .421 this month and has vaulted to third in the Southern League.
What has changed?
"It started clicking after I spent 11 days on the DL," Rodriguez said. "I was looking for a way to rework my approach at the plate and my swing. I'm just trying to hit the ball off the ground. No ground balls.
Chattanooga Lookouts first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez (30) reacts after catching a foul ball hit by Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp designated hitter John Norwood (22) for an out in the top of the fifth inning at AT&T Field on Thursday, July 13, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
"Just line drives and deep flies, and it's paying off."
And paying off at a good time.
Rodriguez is on the clock as a sixth-year free agent. Hitting .421 in a month enhances the career of someone about to turn 28, while hitting .121 at that age could result in getting released and the potential end of a career.
"When you're a free agent, you're playing for that new organization," Rodriguez said, "but you're also playing for the other 29 teams for that next year just in case that organization says it wants to part ways. Putting up the numbers can grant you another year with someone else. Free agency can be tough, because (Lookouts outfielder Andy) Wilkins played in the big leagues last year (with Milwaukee) and didn't find a team at the start of the year.
"Free agency is getting tougher and tougher every year, and having these numbers can buy you another year as far as your goal."
The Lookouts improved to 19-5 in the second half and 61-33 overall with their latest win. Travis Harrison's two-run double to left field in the second inning scored Max Murphy and Ryan Walker to tie the game at 2, and Nick Gordon's single to center scored Harrison to put Chattanooga ahead to stay.
Chattanooga added two insurance runs in the eighth inning, when Carlos Paulino's sacrifice bunt scored T.J. White and a throwing error brought Harrison home.
Rodriguez says staying even-keeled helps him through the rough patches and surges at the plate. Mauer certainly likes what he's seeing, and if Rodriguez never advances past Double-A with the Twins, he will have had a lot of fun playing.
"It can be difficult for a sixth-year free agent to get a job," Mauer said, "but if you go out and play your game and do the things that you can do, it can be rewarding as well. When he was with the Cardinals, he was a good player with them, too. There is no doubt he is making the most of this opportunity."
Said Rodriguez: "We have a bunch of guys pulling on the same rope on the same side. It's a very special team."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.