Kane County Cougars Announce 2008 Opening Day Roster
April 1, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, have announced the team's official Opening Day roster. Among the 25 players listed on the Cougars' active roster limit, 14 players are heading to Kane County for the first time.
Newcomers such as outfielder Corey Brown are likely to make an impact for manager Aaron Nieckula's squad this season. Brown, a compensation pick from the loss of free agent Frank Thomas, was the 59th overall pick in the June 2007 draft and batted .268 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI for short-season Vancouver in 2007. Another fresh face in the Cougars outfield includes Michael Lissman (non-drafted free agent, 2007) who won back-to-back College World Series titles with Oregon State University. Position players such as Greg Dowling (13 HR, 78 RBI, .262 BA) and Todd Johnson (6 HR, 48 RBI, .242 BA) return. Jake Smith (.293 BA in 37 games), who played catcher for the Cougars last season before suffering a season-ending injury, gets a second turn in Kane County.
Nieckula will count on some familiar faces to find success on the bump for the Cougars. Pitcher Scott Deal (5th round, 2005) was a durable arm for Nieckula's squad in 2007, starting 25 games and posting a 4.29 ERA. Craig Italiano, selected as a compensation pick in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft, has shown promise during his professional career but has been limited due to injuries. Travis Banwart (4th round), Scott Hodsdon (6th round) and Justin Friend (13th round) were all part of Oakland's 2007 draft class and will start the season with high expectations in Geneva.
The Cougars' Opening Day roster has an international flair as well. Pitcher Jamie Richmond, who was acquired from the Braves as part of the Mark Kotsay trade, hails from Ontario and was part of the Canadian Olympic team. Another right hander, pitcher Scott Mitchinson, was a Rule 5 draft selection last December and played for the Australian Olympic team. Mitchinson, a native of Leeming, Australia, spent last season in the Phillies system.
A reality television star also makes Nieckula's roster, as outfielder Shane Keough (36th round, 2005) continues his professional career at Kane County. Keough has appeared in the Bravo TV reality show "The Real Housewives of Orange County" in which his mother, Jeana Keough, is one of the featured housewives.
A 26th player, pitcher Leonardo Espinal, also breaks camps with Kane County but will begin the season on the disabled list.
Nieckula's coaching staff includes pitching coach and former Major Leaguer, Don Schulze. Schulze, who was a first round draft selection by the Cubs in 1980, returns for his second season in the Cougars dugout. Hitting coach Haas Pratt begins his first season in a coaching role as the 26-year old previously spent four seasons as a player in the Oakland system. Finally, trainer Nate Brooks debuts with the Cougars after serving in the same role for short-season Vancouver last season.
The Cougars will conduct workouts at Elfstrom Stadium leading up to the season opener this Thursday in Wisconsin against the Beloit Snappers. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. and Cougars pitcher Craig Italiano is expected to start.
A 2008 roster is attached to this release.
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