After six years as the Class AA affiliates of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Lookouts have partnered with the Minnesota Twins. And after 20 years of being owned by Frank Burke, the Lookouts are now under the guidance of Atlanta-based general partners Jason Freier and John Woods.
Freier is the chairman and chief executive officer of Hardball Capital in Atlanta. Hardball Capital oversees the operations of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Savannah (Ga.) Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League.
“We’ve been in this business, and everybody has their own ways they like to operate,” Freier said. “We will look to be adding our own touches, knowing that it will be a learning curve.”
The Lookouts open their 2015 season in Montgomery on April 9. Their AT&T Field opener will be April 15 against Birmingham.
Woods is a former Chattanooga resident and an East Ridge High School graduate, so attending Lookouts games at Engel Stadium was part of his childhood.
“This is the team I grew up watching,” Woods said. “I’m looking forward to working alongside Jason Freier, who really knows minor league baseball, to help improve the Chattanooga Lookouts in many ways.”
Burke bought the Lookouts in 1995 along with his father, the late Daniel Burke, and Charles Eshbach. The Lookouts played at Engel Stadium under Burke’s ownership until the 2000 season, when the team moved into AT&T Field, a 6,340-seat facility that was privately funded for $10.2 million.
Rich Mozingo will continue to serve as president and general manager of the Lookouts. Mozingo was appointed president and GM by Burke in August 2011 so Burke could focus on the sale.
“I have full confidence in Jason Freier as an operator,” Burke said. “I know John Woods is from Chattanooga and that the Lookouts mean a lot to him. It’s nice to know the team will be in such capable hands, and we’re very happy that we’re where we are.
“There is definitely relief on my part, and I’m looking forward to getting on with my life after the Lookouts.”
Frier and Woods signed an agreement to purchase the Lookouts in December, but the sale had to be approved by the Southern League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. MLB gave its OK in early March.
John Hughes, a businessman from Warner Robins, Ga., signed a purchase agreement last May but backed out in June for personal reasons.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.