For the Chattanooga Lookouts' veteran position players, this 2018 season is very different from a year ago.
Infielders Nick Gordon and T.J. White and outfielder LaMonte Wade were prominent members of last year's Lookouts, who won a share of the Southern League championship after a 91-49 regular season. They are competing now with the goal of leading Chattanooga to another stellar record but also with the objective of leaving this familiar Class AA proving ground and advancing to Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.) and ultimately the big-league Minnesota Twins.
"It's mostly the same from a year ago, but it's a little different in that I kind of already know what to expect," Wade said. "I kind of know the pitching here, and I'm comfortable with the ballparks and everything like that, so I kind of feel like I have an edge.
"I still want to go out there and win games, so that hasn't changed. I want to do my best and help the team win any way I can."
Wade played in 117 games for last season's Lookouts, hitting .292 with 67 RBIs. Entering Wednesday's doubleheader against Jacksonville at AT&T Field, which the Lookouts swept, he was hitting. 257. Chattanooga prevailed Wednesday by scores of 12-4 and 3-2 to extend its winning streak to six games and improve to 8-5.
Gordon, who hit .270 with 66 RBIs last season in 122 games, had posted a .350 average through his first 10 contests. White was off to the slowest start of the trio, hitting .216 through his first 10 games after batting .276 with 65 RBIs in 96 games a year ago.
Twins player development director Jeremy Zoll said earlier this month that Gordon and Wade had the opportunity to advance to Rochester "sooner than later" after spending the entire 2017 season with the Lookouts. Until that time comes, however, Chattanooga's experienced players are seeking to stay sharp each night without any unnecessary stress.
"I can't change or control that part," Wade said. "I just have to do what I have to do each and every day, and that should take care of itself. I don't think there is any added pressure. You have to play this game loose and free and have fun out there."
Said White: "It does add pressure, but as long as you're having fun, it doesn't matter where you're at. The Twins will do their thing, and if they need you, they need you."
On the surface, inheriting a 91-49 team with more than half of the roster returning would be a treat for any manager, but first-year Chattanooga boss Tommy Watkins knows that every season presents different obstacles.
"You just try to challenge the returning players to be leaders while they're here," Watkins said. "They could be here the whole year, or they could be here for another week or another month. You try to get them to understand that you can go to the big leagues from Double-A just as easily as you can from Triple-A.
"You may be back here again, but you're just a call away from the big leagues."
Chattanooga rolled to the opening win Wednesday behind home runs from Wade, Brent Rooker, Sean Miller and Zander Wiel, who went 3-for-3 to continue his torrid start to the year. The Lookouts trailed 1-0 in the second game before pulling even in the fifth inning on Tanner English's sacrifice that scored Brian Navarreto and forging ahead when Gordon opened the sixth with a homer to right field.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.