Oakland's First Rounder Arrives for Start of Tonight's DCS at Elfstrom
Published on September 11, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, have announced that outfielder Michael Choice and catcher Ryan Lipkin have joined the Cougars, while Max Stassi (shoulder inflammation) and Mitch LeVier (arm injury) have been placed on the disabled list. The current transaction keeps the active roster at the Midwest League-mandated 25 players and precedes the start of tonight's Western Division Championship Series between the Cougars and Clinton LumberKings at Elfstrom Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at www.kccougars.com or by calling the Cougars at (630) 232-8811.
Choice (1st Rd, 10th overall) is the highest-ever Oakland draft pick to arrive at Kane County since the Cougars became an A's affiliate prior to the 2003 season. The last A's first round pick to join the Cougars was '08 first-rounder Jemile Weeks (12th overall), who played in 19 games at Kane County that summer.
Choice, who played collegiately at the University of Texas-Arlington, was named Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year after batting a league leading .383 with 16 home runs. He led the nation with a school and conference record 76 walks and finished second in the country with a .568 on-base percentage. The 6-1, 215 pound right-handed hitter reached base safely in all 60 games in 2010 and had a 72-game reaching base streak dating back to 2009. Choice hit .392 with a school record 34 home runs along with 162 RBI, 126 walks and a .505 on-base percentage in 166 games in three years with the Mavericks.
In 27 games at Short-A Vancouver this summer, Choice hit seven home runs with 26 RBI while batting .284. Choice recorded two or more RBIs in eight of those 27 contests.
Lipkin (24th Rd, 2010) also comes to Geneva after ending the season with Vancouver and batted .272 with one home run, 33 RBI and 50 hits in 52 games for the Canadians. A three-year collegian at the University of San Francisco, Lipkin was a Johnny Bench Award semifinalist and set career highs in doubles (19), home runs (7) and extra-base hits (28). Lipkin was drafted by the A's in the 43rd round of the 2009 amateur draft, but opted to return to USF.
This marks the first time a roster move has been made in the midst of a Cougars' postseason since a 2004 transaction six years ago to the date, which brought 1st round pick Richie Robnett to the Cougars for the divisional championship series against Clinton, a series the Cougars won in two games.
Stassi (4th Rd, 2009) has been the Cougars' primary catcher this year. A Midwest League All-Star this past June, Stassi is tied with Leonardo Gil for the team's home run lead with 13. LeVier (9th Rd, 2008) joined the Cougars on August 2 from Short-A Vancouver and was batting .313 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI.
PLAYOFF UPDATE: The Cougars begin the 2010 Western Division Championship Series this evening at Elfstrom Stadium against the Clinton LumberKings. Game time is set for 6 p.m. and the series is a best-of-three format, with Games 2 (Sunday) and 3 (Monday, if necessary) to take place in Clinton.
Midwest League Stories from September 11, 2010
- Loons, Captains Rained Out - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Win Game 1; Top Draft Pick Homers in Debut - Kane County Cougars
- Captains Playoff Game Rescheduled for Sunday Afternoon - Lake County Captains
- Straily Stifles Kings as Cougars Take Game One - Clinton LumberKings
- Cougars Take Game 1 vs. Clinton - Kane County Cougars
- Oakland's First Rounder Arrives for Start of Tonight's DCS at Elfstrom - Kane County Cougars
- Cougars Advance to Divisional Championship Round - Kane County Cougars
- Record Attendance and Community Impact Highlight 2010 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- LumberKings end Kernels' season, 6-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Mike Trout Wins MWL Batting Crown - Cedar Rapids Kernels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
