The Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League have been the Double-A affiliate of the Dodgers from 2009 through the 2014 season.

The past season was a relatively successful one for the Lookouts who made it through to the Southern League Championship Series against the powerful Jacksonville Suns.

Offensively the team finished in the middle of the pact with a team batting average of .257. However, the Lookouts were able to produce runs finishing first in the league in home runs, triples, total bases, runs batted in as well as in SLG and OPS percentages.

As beautiful a setting as AT&T Field in downtown Chattanooga is, many Dodger fans had a difficult time embracing the name of the home field of their Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts – for one very obvious reason.
(Photo credit – Herb Lingl)

On the mound the team had some difficulty preventing runs. The aggregate ERA of 4.60 was near the bottom of the league while a WHIP of 1.45 – the highest in the league – was bloated by 580 walks. In contrast, the Jacksonville Suns pitching staff issued only 307 free passes during the season. The loss of Ross Stripling to Tommy John surgery in spring training was definitely a blow to the Lookouts starting staff although a healthy Stripling no doubt would have earned a promotion to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes at some point during the 2014 season. Early in August left-hander Chris Reed did earn a promotion to the Isotopes leaving another gaping hole in the starting rotation.

During the first half of the season Lookouts manager Razor Shines saw his team finish dead last in the Northern Division of the Southern League with a 26-44 record, a full 20 games behind the first place Huntsville Stars. The second half of the season produced some irony as the Lookouts finished first in their division and the Stars finished last.

The Stars and Lookouts met in a divisional playoff with the Chattanooga squad prevailing 7-6 in the fifth and deciding game of the best of five series. Catcher Chris O’Brien with a two run home run and first baseman O’Koyea Dickson with a three run shot powered the Lookouts to victory. Daniel Coulombe earned the 2.2 inning save while recording four strikeouts.

Lookouts first baseman O’Koyea Dickson was a huge reason for the team’s success in 2014 – especially during the second half. (Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

The Lookouts then met the Southern Division Suns in the league championship series. The series was quickly over as the Suns swept the Lookouts in three straight wins outscoring them 23-7 along the way. Miami Marlins Minor League Player of the Year J.T. Realmuto proved to be a dominant offensive player too hot to handle. As I followed the games another Marlins prospect was definitely a pain the lower back at the plate. In the three games he hit .357, scored three runs, drove in three, had two doubles and a home run as well as walking twice. Even his outs usually came on hard hit balls. Little did I know at that time that Suns second baseman Austin Barnes, the pain in the lower back, would probably open the 2015 season as a member of the Oklahoma City Dodgers. In December he was included in a trade between the parent Dodgers and the Marlins. Barnes, a catcher by trade, had to and did adapt well to infield positions at second and third base because the aforementioned T.J. Realmuto had a strangle hold on the spot behind the plate.

The 2014 season, besides the playoff run, produced other highlights in Chattanooga. A definite highlight, and one I was privileged to be following, was a no-hitter by Lookouts right hander Andres Santiago on August 28th. He narrowly missed a perfect game by walking just one hitter while striking out 12. Tennessee Smokies third baseman Christian Villanueva coaxed a walk in the eighth inning spoiling the perfect game but he was quickly erased on a double play. On the same day four young pitchers with the Arizona League Dodgers combined to spin their own no-hitter.

Without question one of the highlights of the 2014 season for the Lookouts was right-hander Andres Santiago’s no-hitter on August 29. Santiago was one walk shy of tossing a perfect game.
(Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

Another highlight for the fans in Chattanooga was the arrival of top Dodgers prospect shortstop Corey Seager. He quickly adapted to Southern League pitching producing a triple slash of .345/.381/.534. In 38 games he scored 28 runs, drove in 27 and had 21 extra base hits. With Scott Schebler, Daniel Mayora, and O’Koyea Dickson along with Corey Seager the Lookouts then had a fearsome foursome in the middle of their lineup.

On August 12th left fielder Scott Schebler produced his own highlight reel with a three home run game against the Jacksonville Suns and driving in all the runs in a 4-0 victory. On the season Schebler lead the league in triples with 14 and home runs with 28. He also chipped in with 23 doubles giving him 64 extra base hits among his 137 hits.

First baseman O’Koyea Dickson had his own doubles parade with 36 two-baggers, one behind league leader Rangel Ravelo. Dickson also slugged 17 home runs while scoring 71 runs and driving in 73. Not to be outdone, second baseman Darnell Sweeney contributed 34 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs. He was third in the league with an OBP of .387 as the product of a .288 batting average and a league leading 77 walks.

While following Lookouts games, especially in a tight situation, I always looked for third baseman Daniel Mayora. He was a soldier’s soldier and was certainly in the running for the Lookouts MVP award in 2014. In the field he made the plays and at bat he was clutch. He led the league with 149 hits, scored 69 runs and drove in 75. His .302 batting average was the fifth highest in the Southern League.

As mentioned, the Lookouts pitching staff did not have the kind of year that I am sure pitching coach Scott Radinsky was hoping to see. However, they did pitch well enough to make it to the playoffs. Andreas Santiago was the workhouse for the starting staff while free agents Jeremy Kehrt, Tyson Brummett and Nick Struck all proved to be good additions in the absence of Stripling and Reed. Relievers Steve Smith and Matt Shelton were pressed into service as starters and each had several good starts towards the end of the season.

The relief corps did provide good support for the starters. Juan Gonzalez led the charge with 54 appearances while left-hander Michael Thomas finished the season with a 2.73 ERA in his 48 appearances. Jarret Martin, another left-hander, gave up only 32 hits in 54 innings. He was recently traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Shawn Zarraga trade.

Daniel Coulombe and Ralston Cash both were promoted to the Lookouts during the season, Coulombe from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in July and Cash from the Great Lakes Loons in August. Both pitched very well at the Class-AA level, both became go to guys, and both had a game to remember. On July 19th Coulombe struck out five of the six batters he faced in a relief appearance against the Mobile BayBears. Cash went one better on September 6th in a playoff game with the Huntsville Stars. He struck out six consecutive batters in his two inning stint.

Dan Coulombe became one of very few Dodgers in history to make it from Single-A to the big leagues in the same season. His tremendous success with the Lookouts is a huge reason why.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

While waiting to see if the Player Development Contract between the Dodgers and Lookouts would be renewed following the season, the announcement came on September 17th that the Dodgers new Double-A affiliate beginning in 2015 would be the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League.

The move from Chattanooga means Lookout fans will not have the much anticipated opportunity to watch young left-hander Julio Urias as he his continues on his path to Dodger Stadium. It does mean the fans in Tulsa will get a close up look at the young phenom. However, the Lookouts will get a look at another Gordon in about two years. Dee Gordon’s brother Nick – also a shortstop – was selected fifth overall by the Lookouts new parent organization, the Minnesota Twins, in the 2014 First Year Player Draft. On September 17th the Lookouts signed a four-year Player Development Contract with the Minnesota Twins that will take them through the 2018 season.

Best wishes for continued success to the Chattanooga Lookouts, to their fans and to their manager, former Dodger Doug Mientkiewicz.