Reds News: Double-A affiliate's new stadium deal, Twins sign former pitching prospect

The Cincinnati Reds reorganized their minor league affiliates a few years back. While the Reds have been tied to the Dayton Dragons and Louisville Bats for over 20 years, the clubs' affiliation with the Daytona Tortugas has only been in existence since 2015.

But the Reds had been affiliated with the Chattanooga Lookouts since 1988. However, from 2009-2018, Cincinnati's Double-A affiliate changed. Up-and-coming prospects spent time with the Carolina Mudcats and Pensacola Blue Wahoos for a time, but in 2019, the Reds revived their relationship with the Lookouts.

The minor league structure changed in 2021, but the Lookouts are still affiliated with the Reds organization. On Monday, it was announced that a deal was in place for the Lookouts to have a new stadium built as part of a multi-use venue in the South Broad District of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Reds news: Minor-league affiliate, Chattanooga Lookouts, have new stadium deal in place

According to the Chattanooga Lookouts website, the new venue will host more than just minor league baseball games. The stadium is said to be available for weddings, conferences, and other community events. The votes to approve the new stadium are scheduled to be held next month, and groundbreaking for the project is expected to follow soon after.

Last year, several of the Cincinnati Reds top prospects called Chattanooga home for a few months. Andrew Abbott, Noelvi Marte, and Rece Hinds all saw time with the Lookouts in 2023. Players like Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Hunter Greene have also played for Chattanooga in recent years.

Reds news: Former prospect Jared Solomon signs MiLB deal with Twins

Speaking of former Reds prospects, Jared Solmon has found a new home. The right-hander agreed to a minor-league contract earlier this month with the Minnesota Twins. Drafted by the Reds in 2017, Solomon making made his major league debut in 2022 and spent last season in Triple-A Louisville.

Solomon has nine major league appearances to his credit, but an ERA of 10.80 is hardly enough to remain part of a major league roster. The right-hander's struggles in the minors during the 2023 season saw the Reds cut him loose last summer.

The 26-year-old will now join Kyle Farmer, and another former Cincinnati pitcher, Anthony DeSclafani in Florida when the Twins begin spring training next month. Farmer was traded to the Twins in 2022, and DeSclafani was part of Monday's trade that saw Jorge Polanco sent to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a trade package that included the former Reds hurler.