Pair of ex-Cougars involved in Cub's A's Trade
Published on February 2, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Oakland Athletics, parent club of the Kane County Cougars, have acquired right-handed pitcher Michael Wuertz from the Chicago Cubs, while sending a pair of former Cougars to the Cubs organization. Infielder Justin Sellers and outfielder Richie Robnett will trade in their Oakland green and gold for the Cubs' blue and red, and each have spent a portion of their professional careers at Kane County.
Sellers, a shortstop from the '06 squad who turned 23 years old yesterday, played in 119 games as a Cougar that season, batting .241 with five home runs and 46 RBI while helping lead the Cougars to a postseason berth that summer. Sellers spent last season at Double-A Midland and posted similar numbers, batting .255 with six home runs and 46 RBI for the RockHounds.
Robnett, a first-round selection by the A's in 2004, came to the Cougars that fall as a late-season addition to their playoff roster, but made an immediate impact as the squad advanced to the Midwest League Championship Series. Robnett batted .321 with a home run, three RBI, six walks and eight runs scored in seven playoff games for the Cougars. In 2008, Robnett fought injuries and alternated between Triple-A Sacramento and ended the campaign as a teammate of Sellers at Double-A Midland.
FAMILIAR NAMES INCLUDED AS NON-ROSTER INVITEES: With less than two weeks remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Oakland A's front office and field staff will keep a close eye on nine former Cougars who have been invited to big league camp as non-roster invitees.
Seven of the nine players are pitchers, including '06 Cougars Vin Mazzaro, who was named Texas League Player of the Year after a sparkling season for Midland in 2008, and Jared Lansford who threw the fifth no-hitter in Cougars history on May 14, 2006. Other former Cougars hurlers invited to big league camp include Andrew Bailey, Trevor Cahill, Andrew Carignan, Brett Hunter and Tyson Ross. Infielders Sean Doolittle and Jemile Weeks will also get a look by Oakland this spring. Weeks, the 1st round pick (12th overall) of the A's in last June's draft, spent part of last season with the Cougars and was the highest-ever Oakland draft pick in Geneva since the Cougars became an A's affiliate prior to the 2003 season.
In 2009 the Cougars hope to build on its growing list of former Kane County players who have played in the Major Leagues. Last season, former Cougars Gregorio Petit, Cliff Pennington, Jeff Gray and Jeff Baisley all made their big league debuts with the Cougars' parent club. Gray's debut with Oakland last September marked the 100th former Cougars player to play at baseball's highest level.
Midwest League Stories from February 2, 2009
- Pair of ex-Cougars involved in Cub's A's Trade - Kane County Cougars
- MBF Releases 2008 Community Report - Great Lakes Loons
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