The Door Revolves
Published on June 25, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland A's, have announced that the following players have been promoted to Stockton (A-Advanced): outfielder Grant Desme, infielder Steve Kleen and pitchers Jason Ray and Mickey Storey. The loss of players includes the Cougars' top slugger, closer and starting All-Star first baseman. However, the team receives a pair of newly-signed '09 draftees in preparation for tonight's first game of the season's second half: fifth-rounder Steve Parker and 11th round selection Mike Spina. In addition, outfielder David Thomas joins the Cougars from Stockton, as well as pitcher Mathieu Leblanc-Poirier. The Cougars' roster stands at 25 active players, the Midwest League maximum.
Parker, a third baseman from Brigham Young University, batted .361 with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 53 games with the BYU Cougars and added 39 walks for a .465 on-base percentage. Under the tutelage of former Cub and longtime BYU coach Vance Law, Parker was a First Team All-Mountain West Conference selection this year and hit .349 with 25 home runs and 114 RBI in 165 career games at BYU.
Spina, also a third baseman, makes his professional debut with the Cougars and is hoping to add some pop to manager Steve Scarsone's lineup. The first collegiate senior to be drafted by Oakland in this year's draft, Spina batted .342 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI for the University of Cincinnati. During his two seasons as a Bearcat, Spina slugged 44 homers and drove in 158 runs, which rank third and fifth, respectively, in UC history.
A pair of Ports come to Kane County: one for the first time and another as a returnee. The new face, Leblanc-Poirier (21st Rd, 2008), pitched out of Stockton's rotation during the season's first half, going 0-3 with a 5.44 ERA in ten appearances. The righty is a native of Quebec and is the second Canadian pitcher on the Cougars roster, joining Jamie Richmond.
Thomas (14th Rd, 2008), who was on the Cougars' Opening Day roster this past April, was promoted to the Ports on April 29 and played in 46 games, batting .218 with two home runs and 19 RBI.
Kleen (11th Rd, 2005) and Ray (8th Rd, 2005), who both made their Kane County debuts in 2006, leave the Midwest for the California League. Kleen, a 2009 Midwest League All-Star, was among the top 3 Cougars in batting average, home runs and RBI (.282, 8, 46). Both players have spent time previously at Stockton, but each missed the entire 2008 season due to injuries.
Similar to Kleen and Ray, Desme's professional career has been slowed by injuries, but the outfielder made up for lost time with a tremendous first half for the Cougars. Both Storey (31st Rd, 2008) and Desme (2nd Rd, 2007) were arguably the two most valuable players on the Cougars' first half division championship team. Desme led the Cougars in home runs (11) and stolen bases (24) through the season's first 70 games, and missed just one game. Storey evolved into a dominant closer after joining the Cougars on May 13. In 13 appearances on the hill, Storey recorded nine saves and twirled a 0.52 ERA to become one of the most dominant closers in the Midwest League.
The Cougars, who have already solidified a playoff berth after winning the Western Division first half championship, commence the second half of the season in Davenport, Iowa for a four-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and Pedro Figueroa (7-2, 3.69) is expected to start.
Midwest League Stories from June 25, 2009
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- Tekotte, Cumberland Power TinCaps to 8-4 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Four Dayton Errors Lead to Loss - Dayton Dragons
- Loons Blanked by Whitecaps, 4-0 - Great Lakes Loons
- TinCaps Double Up Hawks in Second Half Opener - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Vitters Futures Game Resend - Peoria Chiefs
- The Door Revolves - Kane County Cougars
- Vitters Named to Futures Game - Peoria Chiefs
- Sulbaran Named to All-Star Futures Game Roster - Dayton Dragons
- Pair of Fort Wayne Alums Tabbed for Futures Game - Fort Wayne TinCaps
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- Kings Shake Up Second-half Roster - Clinton LumberKings
- Pollock Signs Contract, Will Eventually Be Assigned To South Bend - South Bend Silver Hawks
- All-Star Bourquin Headed to Erie - West Michigan Whitecaps
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