Jose Berrios is one of the Twins top pitching prospects.
photo by Jerry Lai USA TODAY Sports
The Chattanooga Lookouts announced their preliminary Opening Day roster for the 2015 season. The 26-man roster led by manager Doug Mientkiewicz comprises 13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders. The roster will be trimmed to 25 by Thursday.
The team’s roster features 12 of MLB Pipeline’s top-30 Minnesota Twins’ prospects including number two overall prospect Byron Buxton (1), number 12 overall prospect Miguel Sano (2) and number 33 overall prospect Jose Berrios (4). Buxton and Sano are just one part of a prospect-heavy group of position players.
Buxton, the number two draft pick in 2012, played in 30 games last year with the Florida State League Champion Fort Myers Miracle and one in Double-A with the New Britain Rock Cats.
Infielder Jorge Polanco (7) is the only member of the squad who spent time in the Majors last season. The infielder hit .333 with three RBIs in five games with the Twins. Also manning the infield are Heiker Meneses, Levi Michael and Steve Wickens.
Joining Buxton in the outfield are Adam Walker (14), Max Kepler (16) and Travis Harrison (18). All four outfielders spent time with the Miracle and combined to hit 37 home runs.
Rounding out the position players are catchers Stuart Turner (15) and Carlos Paulino. Turner was also on the 2014 Miracle and Paulino will be making his debut in the Twins’ organization after spending last season in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system.
Pitching for the Lookouts’ this season will be a group made up of 12 right-handers and one left-hander.
The lone lefty on the staff is Ryan O’Rourke who spent the majority of last season with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats. Projected to come out of the pen with O’Rourke are right-handers, Nick Burdi (8), Dallas Gallant, Cole Johnson, DJ Johnson, Zack Jones (25), Jake Reed (13) and Adrian Salcedo.
The rest of the staff consists of Tyler Duffey (20), Greg Peavey, DJ Baxendale and Alex Wimmers. Peavey is the only Lookouts’ pitcher who did not spend 2014 with the Twins. The 26-year old split time between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas of the New York Mets’ organization and posted an 11-3 record with a 2.90 ERA at Double-A.
Fans will be able to see the 2015 Lookouts’ squad make their debut tomorrow at AT&T Field when the team takes the field at 6:15 pm for an exhibition game against Chattanooga State.
The regular season begins on Thursday, April 9 against the Montgomery Biscuits and the team makes their home debut on Wednesday, April 15 against the Birmingham Barons. Tickets to Lookouts Baseball presented by FSG Bank are available now online and by calling the box office at 423-267-4TIX.
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About the Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts, a founding member of the Southern League in 1885, are the Class AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Lookouts play their home games at AT&T Field, located on Hawk Hill in downtown Chattanooga. With nearly 130 years of professional baseball, Chattanoga has an alumni list that includes Rogers Hornsby, Ferguson Jenkins, Harmon Killebrew, and Satchel Paige.
For more information, keep up with the Lookouts year-round at www.lookouts.com, or by following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Chattanooga Lookouts), Twitter (@ChattLookouts) and Instagram (@ChattLookouts).
Opening Weekend, 2015
The 2015 Lookouts Home Opener is on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:15 PM against the Birmingham Barons. Opening Weekend will feature the team’s first Fireworks Friday of the season (Friday, April 17), an appearance by the World Famous ZOOperstars! (Saturday, April 18) and Dogs on the Diamond (Sunday, April 19). Fans can reserve their tickets for Opening Weekend and other home games by calling (423) 267-4TIX.
Miguel Sano hitting in Spring Training.
photo by