Cougars Announce 2018 Opening Night Roster
April 5, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, have announced the organization's Opening Night roster for the 2018 season. The incoming group of 25 players arrived from the D-backs spring training complex earlier this week and will take the field tonight at 6:30 PM against the Clinton LumberKings at Northwestern Medicine Field.
PITCHERS: Jeff Bain, Mack Lemieux, Kevin McCanna, Jayson McKinley, Brian Shaffer, Cole Stapler, Abraham Almonte, Anfernee Benitez, Matt Brill, Erbert Gonzalez, Matt Peacock, Breckin Williams, Jake Winston
CATCHERS: Jose Herrera, Tim Susnara
INFIELDERS: Luis Basabe, Jasrado Chisholm, Manny Jefferson, Eudy Ramos, Joey Rose, Yan Sanchez, Yoel Yanqui
OUTFIELDERS: Ernie De La Trinidad, Luis Silverio, Stephen Smith
Short Hops
- 12 players spent time with the Cougars during the 2017 season
- Right-hander Brian Shaffer was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 2017 following his junior season at Maryland.
- Jasrado Chisholm, Brian Shaffer and Eudy Ramos enter the season ranked as some of the D-backs Top 30 Prospects by MLB.com. Chisholm is currently ranked No. 3, Shaffer at No. 24 and Ramos at No. 28.
- Matt Brill and Kevin McCanna are familiar to Illinois. Brill, a native of Coal Valley, IL attended Moline High School while Kevin McCanna was born in Joliet, Ill.
Cougars manager, Blake Lalli, begins his first season as a manager after spending the last five seasons playing in the Majors with the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves. The former Major Leaguer will be joined in the dugout by pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Rick Short, coach Carlos Mesa, athletic trainer Kelly Boyce and strength and conditioning coach Tim Queck.
Gates for the Cougars 2018 Opening Night festivities will open at 5:30 p.m. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive an Opening Night cap, courtesy of Northwestern Medicine. Fans can participate in a pre-game autograph session with the opportunity to run the bases following the game (weather permitting). Thirsty Thursday specials, presented by Miller Lite, will also be available with $1 beers, sodas and hot dogs.
Midwest League Stories from April 5, 2018
- Lugnuts Open 2018 with 12-1 Rout of Loons - Lansing Lugnuts
- Margevicius Shines, But TinCaps See Season Opener Slip Away - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hot Rods Rally Late to Top Dragons 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Kernels Kick off 2018 with 2-0 Shutout - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons Fall against Lansing on Opening Day - Great Lakes Loons
- Wintry Conditions Postpone Cougars Home Opener - Kane County Cougars
- LumberKings 2018 season to wait one more day - Clinton LumberKings
- TinCaps Game Notes: April 5 at Lake County (Game 1) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Midwest League Welcomes 2018 Umpires - MWL1
- Lugnuts Announce Official 2018 Opening Day Roster - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Announce 2018 Opening Night Roster - Kane County Cougars
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