Four Cougars Alumni Named Major League All-Stars
Published on July 7, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Sunday evening's roster announcement for the Major League All-Star Game includes four former Kane County Cougars as Detroit infielder Miguel Cabrera, Baltimore outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz and Oakland pitcher Sean Doolittle were named to the American League squad. San Diego pitcher Tyson Ross was named to the National League squad. This year's game will be hosted by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, July 15. This is the 18th straight Major League All-Star Game to include at least one former Cougar. Here's a capsule look at the four 2014 Major League All-Stars who wore Cougars jerseys as minor league prospects.
OF/DH Nelson Cruz - Baltimore Orioles . Cruz, a three-time All-Star, was selected as the starting designated hitter for the AL squad. Cruz entered play on Monday with the Major League lead in RBI with 71 and is tied for the big league lead in home runs with 27. As a Cougar in '03, Cruz was named a Midwest League All-Star and batted .238 with 20 home runs and 85 RBI.
1B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers . The two-time reigning AL MVP Award winner and three-time defending AL batting champion has been selected an All-Star for the 9th time in his career. Cabrera is 4th in the Major Leagues with 68 RBI. As a Cougar in '01, Cabrera batted .268 with seven home runs and 66 RBI to help bring Kane County its first-ever Midwest League championship.
P Sean Doolittle - Oakland Athletics . Doolittle is a first-time All-Star and one of six Athletics on the AL roster. A lefty closer, Doolittle has 13 saves in 16 opportunities this season and a 61:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Doolittle was drafted by the A's as a first baseman and played at Kane County in 2007. Doolittle made his professional debut as a pitcher in 2011 in the Arizona Rookie League and less than a year later, was on a big league mound for Oakland. As a Cougar in '07, Doolittle batted .233 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI.
P Tyson Ross - San Diego Padres . Ross is a first-time All-Star and ranks 11th in the NL with a 2.93 ERA. His strikeout total of 111 is 7th-best and he threw his first career shutout on July 2 against Cincinnati. As a Cougar in '08, Ross made his professional debut with the Cougars. In 6 games that season, Ross was 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA.
Former Cougars as MLB All-Stars
2013 - Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz
2012 - Miguel Cabrera, Huston Street
2011 - Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier
2010 - Andrew Bailey, Miguel Cabrera, Trevor Cahill, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez
2009 - Andrew Bailey, Josh Beckett, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Gonzalez
2008 - Ryan Dempster, Adrian Gonzalez
2007 - Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera
2006 - Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria
2005 - Miguel Cabrera, Luis Castillo, Scott Podsednik, Dontrelle Willis
2004 - Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria
2003 - Luis Castillo, Edgar Renteria, Dontrelle Willis
2002 - Luis Castillo, Randy Winn
2001 - Charles Johnson
2000 - Ryan Dempster, Edgar Renteria
1999 - Alex Gonzalez
1998 - Edgar Renteria
1997 - Charles Johnson
Midwest League Stories from July 7, 2014
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- Timber Rattlers Host Storybook Princess Tea Party July 12 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chih-Wei Hu and Jake Reed join Kernels from Elizabethton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Four Cougars Alumni Named Major League All-Stars - Kane County Cougars
- Captains Begin Action-Packed Seven-Game Home Stand Tomorrow - Lake County Captains
- Largest Two-Day Crowd in Club History Fills BG Ballpark - Bowling Green Hot Rods
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