A sports attraction that has been the source of lifelong memories for many in the Scenic City is set to return to the baseball diamond for the start of a new season.
The Chattanooga Lookouts will begin their 138-game Southern League schedule for 2024 in Alabama, facing the Birmingham Barons at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Chattanooga’s first homestand of the year is a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies that starts Tuesday at AT&T Field.
Here are nine things to watch for as another season is almost here for the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate.
1. Another dose of Aguiar
Right-hander Julian Aguiar will start the season with the Lookouts, though his time on the mound in Chattanooga might not be long if he continues his current trajectory. The 2023 minor league pitcher of the year within the Reds organization received his first invitation to big league spring training in February after picking apart hitters to the tune of a 2.95 earned run average with 1.10 walks and hits allowed per inning over the course of 125 pitched last season for the High-A Dayton (Ohio) Dragons and Chattanooga.
The opposition hit just .215 off Aguiar, who as a pro has averaged 10.37 strikeouts compared to 2.50 walks per nine innings. Listed as the Reds’ No. 17 prospect by MLB.com, he features a mid-90s sinking fastball and a hard slider that are tough to hit, as proven by his 0.58 home runs allowed per nine innings in 2023.
2. KBO star’s veteran influence
The 2012 MaxPreps.com national player of the year as a Mississippi high school star, Anthony Alford seems certain to become a fast favorite of Lookouts fans.
Once the No. 25 prospect in the entire minor leagues, Alford made his Major League Baseball debut in 2017 and spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates before becoming an international star the past two years while playing in the KBO League, which is the highest level of baseball in South Korea.
Now 29, the five-tool outfielder had 83 extra-base hits, 120 RBIs and 22 stolen bases for the KT Wiz in two seasons, when he batted .288 with an on-base percentage of .359 and a slugging percentage of .476 while appearing in 213 games.
3. First-round pick in rotation
Right-hander Chase Petty turns 21 on Thursday, and the Reds’ fifth-ranked prospect is excited to build off a tremendous 2023 season.
The New Jersey native grew up a huge fan of the New York Yankees and idolized legends such as shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera. Petty was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of high school but was traded in a March 2022 swap that shipped Sonny Gray out of Cincinnati.
Petty posted a 1.72 ERA in 68 innings last year, which included eight scoreless for the Lookouts at the end of the regular season. His pitches have been clocked at 100 mph, including during spring training this year.
4. Freeeeeeeeee
James Free is set to handle first base for the Lookouts again.
The 6-foot-2 switch hitter was impressive at the dish last season as he led the team in hits (113) and walks (61) while ranking second in home runs (17) and RBIs (69). The 25-year-old should offer a strong bat again this year and drive in a lot of runs while pushing to be called up.
5. Bobblehead night of note
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 6. That night, the Lookouts will be giving away Elly De La Cruz bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans through the gates for their game against the Tennessee Smokies. It will be the first player bobblehead giveaway for the Lookouts since the 2021 season.
De La Cruz was a fan favorite in Chattanooga two years ago and has been a hit in the big leagues so far with 37 stolen bases and 13 home runs in just more than 100 games played for the Reds.
6. Final full season at AT&T Field
With the process underway to building a new home stadium for the Lookouts in 2025, fans will want to cherish some of their final memories this season atop Hawk Hill.
This is the 25th season at AT&T Field, a venue that made its grand debut in a 5-4 win for the Lookouts on April 10, 2000. (The Lookouts, like all of minor league baseball, did not have a 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) The stadium was known as BellSouth Park from its opening until March 2007.
7. Speed in outfield
While Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise spoiled fans with their blazing speed on the basepaths and in the outfield last year, the Lookouts should have plenty of wheels again this year roaming the deepest parts of the park.
The new faces that fans will see a lot of include Austin Hendrick, the 12th overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft, along with Jack Rogers, Justice Thompson and Alford. With that mix, there will be several candidates this year to hit at least 15 home runs and steal at least 15 bases.
8. Strong gloves up the middle
Miguel Hernandez and Jose Torres should form one of the top middle infield duos in the Southern League.
Hernandez was not charged with an error in 48 innings played for the Lookouts last season, while Torres has a career fielding percentage of .975. If both can add solid results at the plate to their stellar play in the field, Chattanooga could be a very tough team to beat.
9. Nelson bombs
Mat Nelson hit 21 homers last year in just 350 minor league at-bats, which included an extremely successful short stint to end the season with the Lookouts.
In 12 games with Chattanooga, Nelson hit .297 with three homers while walking 10 times and striking out eight. If he can build off his solid finish, the Lookouts will have a big-time power bat.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.