MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars Announce 2010 Opening Day Roster

April 5, 2010 - 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. The squad includes five of the A's first 10 draft picks in '09, 17 first-time Cougars, and a state championship-winning pitcher from the Chicagoland area. A full 25-man Opening Day roster is attached, and uniform numbers will be added to a separate roster release scheduled to go out on Tuesday.

Manager Aaron Nieckula returns to Kane County after a one-year stay in Stockton, and will guide a youthful roster as four players on the squad fall under the age of 20. That's the highest number of "U-20" Cougars since the '06 Opening Day roster, which included 19-year old pitchers Vin Mazzaro and Craig Italiano. The youngest member of this year's team, 18-year old Ian Krol, is a former state champion pitcher from Neuqua Valley HS in Naperville and was the A's seventh-round selection last summer. This marks the second straight season a pitcher from Chicago's western suburbs - who attended Cougars games as a young fan - puts on a professional uniform at Elfstrom Stadium (Kenny Smalley, 2009). Krol also becomes the first-ever Cougars player who was not yet born when the organization played its first game in April of 1991.

In addition to Krol, the Cougars' staff will have a second lefty in the mix, as Justin Marks (3rd Rd, 2009) makes his full-season debut in Geneva. Marks, who was the A's second overall pick in last summer's draft, pitched four seasons at the University of Louisville and was named Big East Pitcher of the Year after his senior season.

Pitcher Paul Smyth (35th Rd, 2009) will be a key cog in the Cougars' bullpen, as the righty returns to Kane County. Smyth worked up a 36.1 inning scoreless streak as a Vancouver Canadian and Cougar towards the end of last season, and opens the 2010 year hoping to add to that streak.

Smyth, along with the rest of the Cougars pitching corps, will have a much-talked about batterymate in 19-year old Max Stassi. Stassi (4th Rd, 2009) spent much of spring training in the A's big league camp, even hitting a home run in a big league exhibition. Stassi was rated by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the A's system and their best defensive catcher. Stassi's baseball bloodlines include his dad, grandpa and great-grandpa - each of whom played professionally.

The Cougars also receive Rashun Dixon (10th Rd, 2008). Dixon, who passed on a football scholarship to Mississippi State University, is another 19-year old who was named the best athlete in the A's system, according to Baseball America. Dixon is a former Mr. Baseball in the state of Mississippi, was named MVP of the A's Instructional League last fall, and makes the jump to full-season baseball for the first time in his professional career.

Other notables on the Opening Day roster include pitcher Bo Schultz (Non-drafted FA, 2008), who pitched collegiately at Northwestern University in Evanston. Outfielder Myrio Richard (9th Rd, 2009) is the younger brother of '08 Cougar Michael Richard. And catcher Chris Affinito (Non-drafted FA, 2009) was signed by current A's scout and former Cougar Marc Sauer (2000-'01).

Nieckula, who was field general with the Cougars from 2006-08, welcomes back pitching coach Jimmy Escalante and hitting coach Haas Pratt. Escalante begins his second season as Cougars pitching coach while the 2010 season will be Pratt's third season as hitting coach. Trainer Brian "Doc" Thorson makes his Kane County debut and arrives via Stockton.

The Cougars begin the 20th season of Major League-affiliated baseball on the road Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Appleton. For the first time since 2002, the Cougars open the home portion of the schedule on a weekend, hosting the Burlington Bees for a 1 p.m. opener at Elfstrom Stadium this Sunday. Opening Day tickets, including a free box or reserved seat ticket for children age 10 and under, are available by calling the Cougars at (630) 232-8811, visiting www.kccougars.com or stopping by the Cougars' box office during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9-6, Saturday from 9-4). There are a limited amount of spaces remaining for the Cougars' Opening Day Party and buffet, to be held inside the Super Suite of the Old Second Bank Upper Deck. Reservations can be made by contacting the Cougars at the above phone number.

Check out the Kane County Cougars Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 5, 2010


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