Article: 2017 Chattanooga Lookouts Roster Preview

[Seth Stohs]

After winning the Southern League championship in 2015, the Chattanooga Lookouts went 75-65 in 2016 and just missed the playoffs. This roster is filled with several of the Twins top pitching prospects, guys who could help the Twins within the next two seasons, maybe as early as late 2017. But there are also some really good hitting prospects on this roster. The 2017 season should be another exciting one for the Lookouts and their fans. This is where you'll find many of the top prospects!Today we look at the Chattanooga Lookouts players and coaching staff. We try to figure out a solid everyday lineup, and discuss the top prospects. Feel free to share any thoughts you may have on the team or roster, and ask as many questions as you would like.

 

 

COACHING STAFF

 

Doug Mientkiewicz managed the Lookouts the last two seasons. He led the team to a 151-126 record and that 2015 championship. He returns to Ft. Myers, and Jake Mauer takes over the Lookouts as manager. Mauer has experienced a lot of success. This will be his tenth season as a manager in the Twins minor league system. His overall record is 504-441. He managed in the GCL and at Ft. Myers before taking over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2013. In his four seasons there, he went 308-248 and led the team to the playoffs all four seasons.

 

Ivan Arteaga begins his second season as the Lookouts pitching coach. He began his coaching career with the Twins in 2001 for the Venezuelan Winter League. He’s been a pitching coach at nearly every level of the minor leagues. Javier Valentin takes over for Tommy Watkins as the hitting coach of the Lookouts. Valentin has been a coach in the GCL the last two years after spending ten seasons in the big leagues, three with the Twins.

 

 

ROSTER

 

15 of the 2 players mentioned below in the roster spent at least some time with the Lookouts in 2017. Three players are on the 40-man roster (Engelb Vielma, Felix Jorge and Fernando Romero).

 

One player has spent some time in the big leagues. Paul Clemens has spent time in the big leagues three of the last four season (2013-14 with the Astros, 2016 with the Padres). He signed with the Twins last week and will get some innings for the Lookouts before moving up to the Red Wings.

 

HITTERS

C: Dan Rohlfing, Jose Gonzalez

IF: Jonathan Rodriguez, Nick Gordon, Levi Michael, Engelb Vielma, Ryan Walker, Dan Gamache, TJ White

OF: Edgar Corcino, Tanner English, Travis Harrison, LaMonte Wade

 

PITCHERS

SP: Felix Jorge, Fernando Romero, Kohl Stewart, Matt Tracy, Nik Turley, Stephen Gonsalves (DL)

RP: Luke Bard, Nick Burdi, Paul Clemens, John Curtiss, Ryan Eades, Raul Fernandez, Mason Melotakis, Tyler Jay (DL),

 

 

POTENTIAL LINEUP

 

LF - LaMonte Wade

CF - Tanner English

SS - Nick Gordon

DH - Travis Harrison

1B - Jonathan Rodriguez

RF - Edgar Corcino

C - Dan Rohlfing

2B - Engelb VIelma

3B - Ryan Walker

 

 

TOP PROSPECTS

• Fernando Romero - Has perhaps the best stuff, a 98 mph fastball and a slider near 90.
• Stephen Gonsalves - Most polished pitching prospect with a solid, four-pitch mix. Good showing in big league camp until shoulder soreness. Working in Ft. Myers to stretch out.
• Nick Gordon - Strong showing in the Arizona Fall League last year earned him an invite to big league camp. Continues to grow. Will play shortstop and second base.
• Tyler Jay - Moved to the bullpen this spring, where his stuff will play up, and he could move quickly. Out early with biceps tendinitis.
• Kohl Stewart - Former top pick, Stewart has good stuff, has put up strong numbers, but needs to find a way to miss more bats (rather than just get weak contact).
• Felix Jorge - Most consistent starting pitcher the last three seasons, Jorge has progressed by attacking the strike zone with three good pitches, and a fastball at 91-94.
• LaMonte Wade - One of the best plate approaches in the system, Wade should start developing some power if he can stay healthy in 2017.
• Engelb Vielma - The top defensive infielder in the Twins system, he will likely spend time at shortstop and second base. He has little power but has hit for average.

STORIES TO WATCH

• Nick Gordon and Engelb Vielma are both starting the season here. It will be interesting to see how Jake Mauer allocates the playing time between the two, at shortstop and second. Paul Molitor would like to see Gordon get more time at second base this year, obviously, it makes him a possible call up in two spots. Most admit that Vielma is the better defensive player, and Molitor called Gordon one of the better hitting prospects. Will be fun to follow.
• Twins Daily’s #1 and #2 prospects, Fernando Romero and Stephen Gonsalves, will be pitching on this staff. But Kohl Stewart and Felix Jorge will want to keep their names in the prospect circles too. All four can be big league pitchers, so how will each fare?
• Tyler Jay made the move to the bullpen. He will begin the season on the Disabled List with biceps tendinitis which will likely have him out a few weeks.
• Levi Michael and Travis Harrison were first round picks of the Twins in 2011, Michael out of college and Harrison out of high school. They can become free agents at the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see how they progress this year.
• Dan Rohlfing and Jose Gonzalez are minor league veterans. Both are considered very good behind the plate. They will be tasked with working with this talented pitching staff, yet each of them still have big league aspirations.
• That bullpen is full of very, very hard throwers, headlined by Nick Burdi. The Louisville product would like to move past an injury-plagues 2016 and could advance quickly. But Bard, Curtiss, Jay, and Melotakis all sit in the mid-90s as well.

Please feel free to discuss this roster. Ask lots of questions and check back often. What stories will you be following?

 

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[nytwinsfan]

That is a hell of an exciting roster. Didn't realize Jay was on the DL. Bummer.

[goulik]

Makes a guy wanna take a road trip to Tennessee....

[beckmt]

Should be the Twins best farm club to start. Pitching should be excellant and this club should be able to hit. 

Most of us will be looking for a 1st half championship, unless the major league clubs implodes early and some of these players are early callups.

[TKGuy]

Nice starting staff

[tobi0040]

Unreal amount of prospects here.

 

It seems like long term the Twins will have Gordon at SS and Polanco at 2B, with Dozier likely traded and it would seem unlikely to be extended. So we could have another Twins blunder in the making of Gordon plays mostly at 2B.

[FormerMinnasotan]

Honestly at least 4/5 starters in Chattanooga will probably be promoted to Rochester this year (Gonsalves, Stewart, Romero, Jorge) with at least 3 starters possibly looking at a possible September call up (Stewart, Gonsalves, Jorge).

[Mike Sixel]

I really hope they keep Gordon at SS at least half the time. He's the most likely future there. They are set at 2B, assuming they keep Polanco and/or Dozier, not to mention they can move Gordon there later if needed. 

 

I really hope the RPs show control and health, that is a much more exciting list than the MLB roster, imo. 

 

Overall, this is a very good roster. Hoping for health, really.

[Vanimal46]

I hope the FO dictates the battle between Vielma and Gordon for SS playing time. Vielma from all we've read is the better fielding SS right now, but long term Gordon is the better prospect.

 

I'd like to read about Gordon starting at SS the majority of the season. Potential wins be damned.

[Seth Stohs]

My guess is the front office, and guys like Jeff Pickler, are dictating to Jake Mauer how to allocate SS/2B playing time to Vielma and Gordon. 

 

My guess is that Gordon will get probably 55-60% of the starts at shortstop with Vielma getting most of the starts at 2B. If they can play one, they can play the other, so just keeping both fresh at both spots is what's important. 

 

What'll be interesting to me is the 3B playing time... Gamache, White, Walker and Michael will all see time there. Walker can play all three infield spots. White has played some 1B. Michael can play all three, but obviously best at 2B. So, I'm curious. Some of them will get a little OF time too, probably.

 

Then again, with Harrison, Wade, English and Corcino, they all will play most every day and take the DH spot. 

[Steve Lein]

This pitching staff is insane. Offense will go as Wade, English, Gordon, and Harrison go.

 

Should be a really good team, but hopefully for only about half the year due to all the needed promotions.

[Guest]

Two historical Twins issues may hamstring this team: weak power and pitcher injuries. The portion of their top pitchers that have had major injuries is amazing. Gordon as a #3 makes sense based on his projections when drafted, but not based on his slightly above league average performance so far during his career and the lack of fulfillment so far of his physical growth projections. Harrison, who had a .108 ISO last year and will be in his third year at AA, also has not achieved projections. Unless all of the projected growth happens and the pitchers discover health, this team could be disappointing.

 

 

Possible upside surprises could occur from Stewart and Curtiss. I view Stewart differently from Gordon because Stewart actually has the physical ability; he just needs to refine his skills and perhaps "figure out" how to pitch. Gordon, however, while having decent skills, may not yet have developed enough physically to be an impact bat.

[jrod23]

 

Makes a guy wanna take a road trip to Tennessee....

 

Definitely made Chattanooga a stop on our annual minor league road trip two years ago when they had Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Polanco, Berrios, (Adam) Walker, Harrison, etc.  Well worth it and they were extremely hospitable (shot out to Rich Mozingo).  This lineup's potential is quite similar, however, the '15 lineup was more stacked in batting prowess.  This year's Lookout roster is going to keep people off the bases.  Downside is Burdi, Jay, Stewart, Melotakis, Gonsalves now, and Romero have all been on the DL doing some hard time.  Keep those arms healthy, and we'll see some results.  Will we EVER see the days again where pitchers would hurl 9 innings and then do it again 3-4 days later, and repeat that for an entire season, and repeat all that for an entire career?

This is a successful group, mixed with a good chunk of talent from the Kernels that went to the finals in the Midwest League 2 years ago.  Add Wade's bat, and you've got a reliable lineup.  Not overly prospect studded, but above average.

[caninatl04]

With the exception of Catcher, we could be looking at the backbone of the Twins' opening day roster in, what, 2021?

[caninatl04]

Why the switches with Mientkiewicz and Mauer?  Should these be considered promotions / demotions or are managers assigned based on relative strengths / weaknesses of the clubs?

 

 

[beckmt]

 

With the exception of Catcher, we could be looking at the backbone of the Twins' opening day roster in, what, 2021?

I would hope before that, with the pitchers 2018 to blend with the nucleus already on the Twins. 

[Thrylos]

Chattanooga will definitely be the class of the Twins' system and well worthwhile a weekend trip to watch as series.   It is pretty accessible, only 2 hrs drive from the Atlanta Airport (a major Delta hub with direct flights everywhere) and even if you do not drive, there are Greyhound buses from downtown Atlanta (can take bus from airport) for less than $20 each way.  Thought about going last season, but this season I have no excuses not to

 

Btw, based on recent use, I bet that Gordon will mostly be at 2B and Vielma at SS...

[KirbyHawk75]

Gonsalves and Jay are not out very long are they?  

[Thrylos]

 

Gonsalves and Jay are not out very long are they?  

 

No

[LiquidQuick]

Hey guys, I don't see White listed on this roster on the Lookouts site. Is he starting on the DL? Anyone have any updates?

 

http://www.milb.com/documents/7/3/2/222130732/2017_Lookouts_Roster_Opening_Day_v33cljhd.pdf

[sftwinsfan]

A lot to like about the pitching staff, starters and bullpen.  I don't see much to get excited about with the position players.  I see Vielma's ceiling as utility infielder. Gordon needs to go on the Miguel Sano diet plan.  Someone get that kid a cheeseburger.

[Mike Sixel]

Why the switches with Mientkiewicz and Mauer? Should these be considered promotions / demotions or are managers assigned based on relative strengths / weaknesses of the clubs?

Doug's family lives in Florida, iirc. He wanted to be there.

[Seth Stohs]

Nick Gordon isn't going to get huge, but he's plenty strong. He'll be fine. And he'll keep gaining size and experience. He has the ability to hit the ball a long ways. he's a pretty complete hitter too.

[Seth Stohs]

I'd also warn against this...

 

Often guys are top prospects in part because of their age-to-level-of-competition. As much as some of the guys are very, very talented, there are going to be 21-22 year olds playing against 24-26 year olds with a lot of experience. So, lots of prospects at a level doesn't always translate to lots of wins. AT least not always early.

[dougd]

I enjoyed a Lookouts game at Knoxville (Cubs) last year. The stadium is actually 20 miles east of Knoxville, near the junction of the road to the Smokies and Dollywood. Nice stadium, atmosphere, cheap and fun. 

[LiquidQuick]

Confirmed: White is on the 7-day disabled list. Anyone have information about his injury? Thanks in advance.