Haas He Been Here Before?
March 18, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Oakland Athletics have announced that former Cougars player and Oakland farmhand Haas Pratt has been named as Kane County hitting coach for the 2008 season. Pratt replaces Benny Winslow, who has resigned from the Athletics.
At age 26, Pratt becomes the youngest member of a Cougars coaching staff in franchise history. Pratt joins manager Aaron Nieckula who will embark on his third season as Cougars skipper, and Don Schulze who will handle the pitching corps for a second season at Kane County.
Pratt ends his playing career and transitions into a coaching role after spending the last four seasons as a prospect in the A's system. Last season, Pratt spent time in the Cougars lineup as a designated hitter while also playing catcher, first basemen and even pitcher in emergency duty.
Pratt's ten home runs tied for second-best among Cougars players in 2007. A 2004 draft selection by the A's, Pratt ends his professional career with 19 home runs and 85 RBI.
"Stepping into a coaching role is what I've always wanted to do," Pratt said from Oakland's spring training facility in Phoenix, Arizona. "To work in a leadership position with these players and help them achieve success is something that I'm really looking forward to."
Winslow resigns as hitting coach of the Cougars after serving the team in the same capacity last season. Winslow spent three seasons in the Oakland organization as a player (2003-05) before making his coaching debut as hitting coach with short-season Oakland affiliate Vancouver in 2006.
Cougars players and coaching staff continue to work out in Phoenix during the remainder of Spring Training, and will arrive in Geneva days before their season opener on April 3 against the Beloit Snappers in Wisconsin.
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- Haas He Been Here Before? - Kane County Cougars
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