The Chattanooga Lookouts are 25 games over .500 with one long-awaited Southern League championship since becoming the Class AA affiliates of the Minnesota Twins in September 2014.
Twins officials hope for more of the same in the third season of the partnership.
"I really like the team we're sending there out of the chute," Minnesota player development director Brad Steil said. "I expect that we'll be competitive, but you never know how injuries and promotions will impact your roster throughout the course of a season. Some of our better prospects will be on Chattanooga's club, including Kohl Stewart returning in the starting rotation and being joined by Fernando Romero, who is one of our top guys. He was with the (High A) Fort Myers Miracle last year.
"Then you've got a guy like shortstop Nick Gordon, who was a first-round pick for us a few years ago."
Chattanooga's 25-man roster to open the season has 13 players who were with the Lookouts at some point last year, including shortstop Engelb Vielma, second basemen Levi Michael and Ryan Walker, left fielder Travis Harrison and right fielder Edgar Corcino. Returning pitchers from last season include starters Stewart, Felix Jorge and Ryan Eades, as well as relievers Luke Bard, Nick Burdi, Alan Busenitz, Raul Fernandez and Mason Melotakis.
The Lookouts will face Chattanooga State in an exhibition game Tuesday night at AT&T Field, and they will begin their league schedule Thursday night by hosting Mobile. First pitch for each of those games is set for 6:15.
Gordon, the younger brother of former Lookouts infielder Dee Gordon, is the No. 1 prospect in the Twins organization, according to Baseball America. Romero and Stewart are the top two right-handed pitchers in Minnesota's farm system, with Romero ranked as Baseball America's No. 4 organizational prospect and Stewart No. 7.
The Twins roared into Chattanooga two years ago, supplying the Lookouts their top three prospects - outfielder Byron Buxton, third baseman Miguel Sano and starting pitcher Jose Berrios. That trio helped the Lookouts post a 43-25 first-half record, which clinched a spot in the playoffs.
Outfielders Max Kepler and Adam Walker helped guide Chattanooga to that season's Southern League title, which was the first for the franchise since 1988.
Buxton, Berrios and Kepler began last season as Minnesota's top three prospects, according to Baseball America, but each had moved on from Chattanooga. The Lookouts still produced a 75-65 record last year but missed out on the playoffs.
Steil believes several of the arriving Lookouts this week could be moving onward and upward as the months progress.
"I think there are a few guys you could look at in that light," Steil said. "Engelb Vielma played mostly short last year at Chattanooga, but I think he'll play around a little more this year. He can play all the infield positions, and he may have a chance to move to Triple-A and then to the big leagues in a utility-type role.
"Nick Burdi is coming back after missing most of the year last year with an injury. He's a hard-throwing reliever who can throw 96 to 98 (mph). Another one we like in the bullpen is John Curtiss, who will be moving up from Fort Myers. He was touching 97 the other day."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.