Byron Buxton
photo by USA Today
Now that the ownership of the Chattanooga Lookouts has been passed on from Frank Burke to the Lookouts Capital group, it is time to get a quick glance at the young men who will be starting the season with the Double-A team of the Minnesota Twins.
The Dodgers are no longer affiliated with the Lookouts where AT&T Field has been home to several Dodgers' prospects, including shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Joc Pederson.
Seager is the top-ranked Dodger player for the second consecutive year. And before making his Major League debut in September, Pederson compiled one of the most impressive seasons of any Minor Leaguer. He hit .303/.435/.582 with 33 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 121 games with Triple-A Albuquerque. He was named the Pacific Coast League MVP and was the Minors' lone 30-30 player in 2014.
For fans who follow closely the top prospects to the Major Leagues, there will not be a letdown from the talent the Dodgers sent to the Scenic City. Gone are Yasiel Puig, Nathan Evaldi, Seager, Pederson, Kenley Jansen and others from the Dodgers' list of top prospects but the Twins will be sending not only their top prospect but the consensus top prospect of the entire Major Leagues, 21-year old Byron Buxton.
Buxton played in only 31 games in the Minor Leagues last year due to a left wrist injury and a concussion sustained in his first career game at Double-A in mid-August before suffering a broken finger that required surgery while he was playing in the Arizona Fall League.
Buxton entered last year as the No. 1 overall prospect, but he struggled to stay healthy, hitting .240/.313/.405 with four homers, four doubles and 16 RBIs in 30 games at Class A Advanced Fort Myers before sustaining his concussion in an outfield collision in his first game at Double-A. Buxton is now healthy and is expected to start the year at Double-A Chattanooga.
MLB.com's assessment has it that assuming Buxton doesn't have any lingering effects upon his return, he'll get back to showing he's a legitimate five-tool player. He has a simple, direct swing and creates excellent bat speed. Buxton's power has already been better than expected, and scouts expect it to improve more as he grows. His speed grades out at the top of the scale and he knows how to use it on the basepaths. Defensively, Buxton covers plenty of ground in center field and has good instincts in the outfield.
Looking at Spring Training standouts, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com immediately points to Buxton. The number one prospect in all of Major League Baseball has impressed thus far during the spring. Although Buxton’s talent is well noted, a lost 2014 brought some uncertainty to just how quickly Buxton would be able to start this season.
So far, Buxton has looked every bit the part of the superstar the Twins hope he will be. Batting leadoff in the exhibition against the Gophers earlier this week, Buxton doubled twice showing off his blazing speed on the basepaths. Buxton went 2-for-3 with two doubles in his first Spring Training game.
Looking to distance himself from the injuries he had to deal with last season, Buxton was focused on improving his body this offseason. Thanks to focusing on working out, combined with a strong nutrition plan, Buxton should be in a better place as the 2015 season rolls around. Having followed around Torii Hunter for much of the early parts of Spring Training as well, Buxton should have plenty of new tricks to employ this year.
Depending upon what decisions are made in Spring Training, the Lookouts are expected to include a power hitting third baseman named Miguel Cano.
Sano, 21, also missed time due to injury last year, as he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March. But Sano made his return to game action against the University of Minnesota this past Wednesday night in an early Spring Training game.
Sano, ranked as the No. 2 prospect of the Twins and No. 11 MLB prospect by MLB.com. After several months of rehab, Sano's elbow feels fine, and he was given the start at third base against the Gophers, batting fifth. He went 1-for-1 with a single and a walk in his first Spring Training game since 2013. The Twins won, 3-1.
"I felt great," Sano said. "It was my first game in two years. So I felt really good."
Sano, 21, has been showing off his prodigious power during batting practice, impressing many in camp. But just as important, Twins' manager Paul Molitor is glad to see that Sano hasn't had any issues throwing during any of his defensive drills at third base.
With Trevor Plouffe the starting third baseman, Sano is expected to begin the season at Double-A Chattanooga, but general manager Terry Ryan hasn't ruled out Sano making his Major League debut late in the season.
He hit 35 home runs between Class-A Advanced Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain in 2013. With Sano's power, however, comes a lot of swings and misses. He has struck out more than 140 times in both of his years in full-season ball.
There should be a great deal of talent playing in Chattanooga, not only on the Lookouts' team but other teams as well. Along with the high caliber play on the field, there will be the entertaining talent between innings that families have always enjoyed.