Pushing through the hard times, personally and with teammates, is a prominent component in development within minor league baseball.
The Chattanooga Lookouts did not lack for adversity in 2019.
Owning a 44-40 overall record and an 8-7 start to the Southern League’s second half following a July 4 win over Jackson at AT&T Field, the Lookouts lost a franchise-record 14 consecutive games. It was the largest league skid since the 1971 Columbus Astros dropped 15 straight, and it left the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds facing the dog days of August with little and eventually zero hope of making the playoffs.
“These guys have progressed to a level to where they don’t need to be reminded about staying positive,” Reds player development director Eric Lee said. “There was always a next day to wipe the board clean and get back at it, and I’m proud of our guys for having taken that attitude.
“It hasn’t born out results, which are important, but they were challenged to get something positive out of it.”