Saturday 5/25        Beloit Snappers (Oakland Athletics farm team)                        (Doubleheader; Game 1 at 3:30 p.m., gates open at 3 p.m.)
Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. WBIG 1280 AM (3:15 p.m.)

-           Pre-game Scout/Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Pre-game autograph session at 6 p.m.
-           All-You-Can-Eat Rooftop Picnic Buffet (reservations required)
-           National Anthem – Lisa DeAngelis
-           Entertainment by the Zooperstars
-           Performance by the Jesse White Tumblers
-           Post-game fireworks show
-           Fans can run the bases after the game
-           Three Fires Scout Campout

Sunday 5/26           Beloit Snappers       6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)    WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

-           Pre-game Scout/Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Sunday Funday – free kid-friendly entertainment inside the ballpark
-           Pre-game autograph session at 6 p.m.
-           Live organ music by Nancy Faust
-           National Anthem – Eastview Middle School (Bartlett)
-           Entertainment by Birdzerk
-           Post-game fireworks show
-           Take Me out to the Ballgame – led by Bolingbrook T-Ball
-           Scout/Family Ballpark Campout (reservations required)
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Monday 5/27       Beloit Snappers            1 p.m. (gates open at noon)                                 WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           Pre-game autograph session at 12:30 p.m.
-           National Anthem – Ken Overbey
-           Fans can run the bases after the game 

Homestand Notes

Holiday Fun Ahead: Fans will be treated to a full slate of holiday fun for the upcoming homestand. Saturday’s game will welcome the Zooperstars and Jesse White Tumblers and also includes a pre-game autograph session and post-game fireworks show. Sunday’s entertainment includes live organ music by Nancy Faust, between-innings antics by Birdzerk, a pre-game autograph session and post-game fireworks show. The Sunday Funday entertainment for kids will begin at 5:30 p.m. inside the ballpark when the stadium gates open. Monday’s 1 p.m. holiday matinee includes a pre-game autograph session as well. Fans can run the bases following each game this homestand.

The Jesse White Tumblers will perform on the field following Saturday night’s game.

Bring an Appetite: The Cougars are hosting an all-you-can-eat rooftop picnic buffet this Saturday. Fans can enjoy a menu that includes grilled meats, salads, side dishes, desserts and Pepsi products served on the Pepsi rooftop patio. The all-inclusive ticket includes food, drink and a game ticket on the rooftop. Reservations are required; fans can call (630) 232-8811.

We’re Camping: Scout groups and families are encouraged to reserve their spaces for this Sunday’s ballpark campout. All attendees will enjoy a Cougars game, a post-game movie on the field and will receive a hot breakfast the following morning. Camping space is limited; fans can call (630) 232-8811 to make their reservations for Sunday’s campout.

Team News: The Cougars (20-22) kick off a brief three-game road trip at Peoria beginning Wednesday evening before returning home on Saturday. The team has dropped 7 of its last 10 games and are 4.5 games out of the chase for a first half playoff spot. The first half of the season ends on June 16. Outfielder/pitcher Bijan Rademacher is third in the Midwest League with a .336 batting average. Pitcher Felix Pena is currently on the disabled list, but is seventh in the league with a 2.23 ERA. Infielder Rock Shoulders shares the league lead with 10 home runs and leads the Cougars with 30 RBI. The Cougars have three players with five or more home runs: Shoulders (10), Dan Vogelbach (5) and Willson Contreras (5). Infielder Jeimer Candelario is batting .524 in his last five games. Pitcher Jose Rosario made his Cougars debut on Sunday, working 4 innings in a starting role against Cedar Rapids.

Cougars infielder Jeimer Candelario is batting .524 in his last five games.

Alumni News: Detroit Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera (’01 Cougar) hit three home runs against Texas on May 19. Cabrera is now batting is batting .387 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI. Cabrera leads Major League Baseball in batting average and RBI. Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz (’03) has 11 home runs. Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Adrian Gonzalez (’01) is batting .321 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI. Arizona pitcher Trevor Cahill (’07) is eighth in the National League with a 2.48 ERA. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is 1^st in the N.L. with 79 strikeouts. Minnesota pitcher Jared Burton (’03) has a 2.37 ERA in 20 relief appearances. San Francisco pitcher Santiago Casilla (’03-’04) has a 1.89 ERA in 21 relief appearances. Miami pitcher Ryan Webb (’05) has a 1.44 ERA in 19 relief appearances.

Outfielder and 2012 Kane County Cougars Player of the Year Jorge Bonifacio (’12) is batting .325 at Class-A Advanced Wilmington (Royals). Pitcher Kyle Smith (’12) is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 8 starts at Wilmington.  Pitcher Justin Marks (’10) is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals). Pitcher Yordano Ventura (’11) is 3-1 with a 1.79 ERA at Northwest Arkansas while pitcher Matt Ridings (’12) is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA for Northwest Arkansas. Pitcher Bryan Brickhouse (’12) has a 2.47 ERA at Class-A Lexington (Royals). Pitcher Chas Byrne (’11) is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA at Lexington. Outfielder Jeremy Barfield (’09) recently made his Triple-A debut at Sacramento (Athletics). Barfield is batting .273 through 10 games with the River Cats. Infielder Jemile Weeks (’08) is batting .285 at Sacramento.  Infielder Anthony Aliotti (’10) is batting .372 at Double-A Midland (A’s) and had a three-homer game last weekend. His batting average is sixth-best in Minor League Baseball. Outfielder Travis Buck (’05) is batting .275 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI at Triple-A Tucson (Padres). Outfielder Javier Herrera (’05) is batting .282 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI at Double-A Richmond (Giants). Outfielder Jermaine Mitchell (’07) is batting .252 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Phillies). Catcher Max Stassi (’10) is batting .238 in 11 games at Double-A Corpus Christi (Astros). Pitcher Jeff Gray (’06) is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte (White Sox). Pitcher Ian Krol (’10) has a 0.79 ERA in 16 appearances with Double-A Harrisburg (Nationals). (Statistics through games played on May 20)

Where’s Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Saturday, May 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.  – Geneva Baseball Cougars Classic
Sunday, June 2 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Batavia Park District

Tuesday 5/14         Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals farm team)
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)  WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           National Anthem – Peter Gombert Elementary (Aurora)
-           Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by May Watts Chorus
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Wednesday 5/15    Peoria Chiefs
11 a.m. (gates open at 9 a.m.)    WBIG 1280 AM (10:45 a.m.)

-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           High School Sports Business and Marketing Seminars (Willowbrook, Bolingbrook, Wheaton North, Kaneland, Batavia, Hinsdale Central)
-           National Anthem – Mill Creek School (Geneva)
-           Color Guard – Steinmetz High School JROTC
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Thursday 5/16       Peoria Chiefs (Split Doubleheader; Game 1 at 11:30 a.m.)  Game 2 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)   WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           National Anthem – JB Nelson (Batavia)
-           God Bless America – performed by D303 5^th Grade Bands
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

Let’s Play Two: The Cougars and Peoria Chiefs will play a split doubleheader on Thursday. Game One, a make-up date from the April 23^rd rainout, will take place at 11:30 a.m. Game Two of the doubleheader will take place at the originally scheduled start time of 6:30 p.m. A separate ticket is required for each game.

Ozzie’s 5K: The Cougars will host Ozzie’s Home Run and Walk 5K on Saturday, May 18. The event will begin at 8 a.m. as participants will start and end the race on the field at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The first 300 registrants will receive a Cougars drawstring bag. All participants will receive a complimentary post-race hot dog or brat, and participants 21 years old and up will receive a complimentary post-race beer. All participants can see themselves on the videoboard as they near the finish line and will get a high-five from Ozzie on the field. There are 14 separate age divisions including 3 kids age divisions. The top 3 finishers in each age division will win a commemorative Ozzie medal. Fans can register online at kccougars.com or racetime.info. A portion of race proceeds will be donated to Ozzie’s Outreach, the Cougars’ charitable arm that gives back to a variety of causes each year.

The 2nd annual Ozzie’s Home Run and Walk 5K is set for Saturday, May 18 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Team News: The Cougars (14-15) are in the midst of a six-game road trip against a pair of Western Division teams: Burlington and Clinton…infielder Rock Shoulders is 7^th in the Midwest League with a .343 batting average, 2^nd in slugging percentage (.593) and third in total bases (64). Shoulders was named the Chicago Cubs Organizational Minor League Player of the Month for April. Infielder Dan Vogelbach is tied with Shoulders for the team lead in RBI with 20. As a team, the Cougars are hitting .279, best in the Midwest League.  Pitcher Michael Heesch has worked at least 5 innings in each of his last three starts. Pitcher Felix Pena is 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA in 5 games, four of which were starts. Outfielder/pitcher Bijan Rademacher is batting .667 in his last five games.

Alumni News: Detroit Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera (’01 Cougar) is batting .381 with 6 home runs and 37 RBI. Cabrera leads the American League in RBI and is 2^nd in batting average.  Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster (’96) has a 2.93 ERA. Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Adrian Gonzalez (’01) is 3^rd in the National League with a .343 batting average. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is 1^st in the N.L. with 66 strikeouts. Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz (’03) is batting .270 with 7 home runs and 24 RBI. Arizona pitcher Trevor Cahill (’07) has a 2.80 ERA through 7 starts. Miami pitcher Ryan Webb (’05) has a 1.89 ERA in 13 relief appearances.

Outfielder and 2012 Kane County Cougars Player of the Year Jorge Bonifacio (’12) is batting .301 at Class-A Advanced Wilmington (Royals). Pitcher Kyle Smith (’12) is 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 6 starts at Wilmington and fellow Wilmington starter Kyle Zimmer (’12) is 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA. Pitcher Justin Marks (’10) is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals). Pitcher Yordano Ventura (’11) is 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA at Northwest Arkansas and has struck out 10 batters in each of his last two starts. Infielder Anthony Aliotti (’10) is batting .366 at Double-A Midland (A’s). Midland teammate Jeremy Barfield (’09) has 8 home runs. Midland pitcher Murphy Smith (’09-‘10) is 3-3 with a 1.91 ERA in 7 starts. Outfielder Javier Herrera (’05) is batting .287 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI at Double-A Richmond (Giants). Pitcher Ian Krol (’10) has a 1.10 ERA in 12 appearances with Double-A Harrisburg (Washington). Pitcher Jason Ray (’06, ’09) has re-surfaced. Ray is with Triple-A Tucson (Padres) and has appeared in 5 games. Other former Cougars on Tucson include infielder Gregorio Petit (’05) and outfielder Travis Buck (’05). (Statistics through games played on May 8)

Former Cougar Yordano Ventura has been dazzling so far this season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, striking out 10 batters in each of his last two starts.

Where’s Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Saturday, May 11 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.  – Hope for Haitians 5K (Geneva)
Sunday, May 12 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. – ALS Association Event (Wheaton)

Wednesday 5/1      Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays farm team)                6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)  WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           National Anthem – Graham School Chorus(Naperville)
-           Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Thursday 5/2         Bowling Green Hot Rods
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)    WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           National Anthem – Lincoln Middle School (Mt. Prospect)
-           Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 5/3               Bowling Green Hot Rods
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Pre-game performance by Spirit Cheerleading
-           Foam claws for the first 1,500 fans, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
-           5/3 Bank Day
-           National Anthem – Long Beach Honor Choir (Montgomery)
-           Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by St. Rita of Cascia
-           Post-game fireworks show
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Saturday 5/4          Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds farm team)
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 4:30 p.m.)  WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
-           Youth baseball/softball clinic from 9:30-11 (click HERE for more info)
-           MLB Pitch Hit and Run competition from 11-1 (click HERE for more info)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club parade
-           Star Wars Night
-           Pre-game Star Wars costume parade
-           Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
-           National Anthem – Band for Today
-           Appearance by the Midwest Garrison (Star Wars costumed characters)
-           Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Norton Creek Elementary
-           Post-game performance by the Jesse White Tumblers
-           Post-game Star Wars-themed fireworks show
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Sunday 5/5             Dayton Dragons
1 p.m. (gates open at 12 p.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Sunday Funday – free kid-friendly activities inside the ballpark
-           Brookfield Zoo kids admission passes for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under
-           Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
-           National Anthem – Fry Elementary (Naperville)
-           Live organ music by Nancy Faust
-           Fans can run the bases after the game

Monday 5/6            Dayton Dragons
11 a.m. (gates open at 9 a.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (10:45 a.m.)
-           Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
-           Ozzie’s Reading Club Kids Day
-           National Anthem – Glen Crest Band (Glen Ellyn)
-           High School Sports Business and Marketing Seminars (Downers Grove South, Wheaton Warrenville South, Waubonsie Valley, East Leyden, Burlington Central, Minooka, Plano, Palatine)
-            Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

Use the force: The first of two Star Wars Nights in 2013 is set for Saturday’s May 4 game. The Cougars will welcome back the Midwest Garrison, a costumed group of Star Wars characters. Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Star Wars characters and participate in a pre-game parade on the field. The evening culminates in a post-game Star Wars-themed fireworks show.

May the Fourth Be With You: The Cougars will celebrate Star Wars Night on May 4.

5/3 Day: Fifth Third Bank and the Cougars will celebrate 5/3 Day with a food drive and post-game fireworks show – the first of the season – at Friday’s May 3 game. Fans are encouraged to bring a canned good and will receive one undated ticket voucher, valid for a 2013 regular season game.

Nancy Faust, Jesse White Tumblers are back: The famed Jesse White Tumblers will perform following each Saturday game this season beginning with May 4…famed ballpark organist Nancy Faust will play at each Sunday game beginning with this Sunday’s May 5 game.

Save the date: The Cougars will host a free youth baseball and softball clinic this Saturday, May 4, from 9:30-11 a.m. at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Participants are asked to bring a glove and bat. Following the clinic, the Cougars will host a MLB Pitch, Hit and Run competition from 11-1 p.m. The event is free for area youth between the ages of 7 and 14; participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate in order to participate.

Team News: The Cougars (7-11) are in the midst of a six-game road trip against a pair of Eastern Division teams: Fort Wayne and Lake County…infielder Rock Shoulders leads the Midwest League with a .403 batting average. Shoulders has the second-most hits in the league with 27. Cougars batters are hitting .285 as a team, tops in the Midwest League. Pitcher Pierce Johnson had seven strikeouts Friday night against Fort Wayne.

Alumni News: Detroit Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera (’01 Cougar) is 2^nd in the American League with a .368 batting average. Cabrera’s 32 hits are third-best in the A.L. Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster (’96) has 43 strikeouts, 2^nd-best in the A.L. Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Adrian Gonzalez (’01) is 2^nd in the National League with a .363 batting average. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is 1^st in the N.L. with 42 strikeouts. Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz (’03) is batting .322 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. Boston pitcher Andrew Bailey (’07) is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 5 saves. Arizona pitcher Trevor Cahill (’07) has a 3.00 ERA through 5 starts.

Outfielder Lane Adams (’11-’12) is batting .325 at Class-A Advanced Wilmington (Royals). Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (’12) is batting .299 and outfielder Tim Ferguson (’12) is batting .344 at Wilmington. Pitcher Kyle Smith (’12) has a 2.33 ERA through 4 starts at Wilmington while Kyle Zimmer (’12) has posted a 3.38 ERA through 4 starts. Infielder Angel Franco (’11) is batting .313 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals). Pitcher Justin Marks (’10) is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA at Northwest Arkansas while Yordano Ventura (’11) is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA. Infielder Anthony Aliotti (’10) is batting .338 at Double-A Midland (A’s). Teammate Jeremy Barfield (’09) has 5 home runs and 11 RBI. Infielder Dusty Coleman (’09) is batting .313 and pitcher Murphy Smith (’09-’10) is 3-2 with a 2.20 ERA at Midland.

Infielder Dusty Coleman (’09 Cougar) is off to a strong start at Double-A Midland (A’s affiliate).

Infielder Jemile Weeks (’08) is batting .314 at Triple-A Sacramento (A’s) and outfielder Michael Choice (’10) is batting .275 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI. Pitcher Travis Banwart (’07-’08) is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA at Sacramento. Pitcher Dan Straily (’10) is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA at Sacramento. Outfielder Javier Herrera (’05) is batting .306 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI at Double-A Richmond (Giants). Outfielder Jermaine Mitchell (’07) is batting .242 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia). Pitcher Ian Krol (’10) has a 0.84 ERA in 8 appearances with Double-A Harrisburg (Washington). Infielder Jeff Baisley (’06) is playing with Acereros del Norte in the Mexican League. (Statistics through games played on April 26)

Where’s Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Thursday May 2 from 6-7 p.m.  – DuPage County Forest Preserve
Sunday, May 5 from 1-2 p.m. – Woodstock Little League

Thursday 4/18
Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros farm team)
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)  WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
National Anthem – St. Mary’s School (DeKalb)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Lincoln Elementary School (Wheaton)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 4/19
Quad Cities River Bandits
6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.)
WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
2013 Season magnetic schedules for the first 1,500 fans, compliments of Country House
National Anthem – Wheatlands Elementary Honor Choir (Aurora)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Grace McWayne School (Batavia)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Saturday 4/20
Quad Cities River Bandits
1 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

Heartland Blood Centers Blood Drive outside the stadium beginning at 11 a.m.
Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
2013 Season magnetic schedules for the first 1,500 fans, compliments of Country House
Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
National Anthem – Patterson School Chorus (Naperville)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Sunday 4/21
Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals farm team)
1 p.m. (gates open at 12 p.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
National Anthem – Kendall Elementary School Chorus (Naperville)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Owen School (Naperville)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Monday 4/22
Peoria Chiefs
12 p.m. (gates open at 10 a.m.)          WBIG 1280 AM (11:45 a.m.)

Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
Ozzie’s Reading Club Kids Day
High School Sports Business and Marketing Seminars (Downers Grove North, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Naperville Central)
National Anthem – Jackson Concert Band (Villa Park)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Parkwood School (Hanover Park)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Tuesday 4/23
Peoria Chiefs
11 a.m. (gates open at 9 a.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (10:45 a.m.)

Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
​Ozzie’s Reading Club Kids Day
National Anthem – Rotolo Middle School Choirs (Batavia)
Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

Ozzie’s Reading Club is back: Ozzie’s Reading Club is back for its 19^th year of promoting reading for Chicagoland youth. This season, the program includes 430 Chicago area schools and a total of 145,000 students who are improving their reading skills through Ozzie’s Reading Club. Participating students who complete reading goals set by teachers are rewarded with a ticket to a Cougars game, a food voucher, Ozzie’s Reading Club T-Shirt, and a chance to take the field for a pre-game parade. Ozzie’s Reading Club is sponsored by Presence Mercy Medical Center and Cantigny Park.

High School Sports Business Seminars: The Cougars’ High School Sports Business Seminars will take place before a total of 5 April and May weekday games this season.  The seminars, led by Cougars staff members, provide an inside look at the sports industry and give students a chance to enjoy a Cougars game. Schools attending this homestand include Downers Grove North, Naperville Central, Bolingbrook and Romeoville high schools.

Get a freebie: The first 1,500 fans through the gates at Friday’s and Saturday’s games will receive a 2013 Cougars magnetic schedule, courtesy of Country House, located just south of Fifth Third Bank Ballpark at the corner of Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway.

The first 1,500 fans attending the Friday 4/19 and Saturday 4/20 games will receive a Cougars 2013 magnetic schedule, courtesy of Country House.

Team News: The Cougars (3-6) split a doubleheader in Wisconsin and continue their road trip this evening at Beloit…Rock Shoulders (.395) and Willson Contreras (.389) are ranked in the Midwest League’s top 10 in batting average…pitcher Felix Pena has not allowed an earned run in two starts – 11.2 innings of work.

Cougars infielder Rock Shoulders has been on a tear so far this season.

Alumni News: Detroit Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera (’01 Cougar) is tied for 2^nd in the American League with 13 RBI…Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster (’96) has 25 strikeouts, 2^nd-best in the A.L. Teammate Andrew Bailey (’07) has allowed one earned run in six relief appearances. Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Adrian Gonzalez (’01) is 2^nd in the National League with a .409 batting average…Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is tied for 1^st in the N.L. with 27 strikeouts. Minnesota pitcher Jared Burton (’03) hasn’t allowed an earned run in five relief appearances.

Michael Antonio (’12) is batting .325 at Class-A Lexington (Royals), managed by last year’s Cougars skipper, Brian Buchanan. At Class- A Wilmington (Royals), pitcher Kyle Zimmer (’12) has a 1.64 ERA through two starts, while teammate Kyle Smith (’12) hasn’t allowed an earned run through two starts. Angel Franco (’11) is batting .455 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals). Anthony Aliotti (’10) is batting .395 at Double-A Midland (Oakland)…Jemile Weeks (’08) is batting .354 at Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland)…Corey Brown (’08) has 2 home runs in 9 games at Triple-A Syracuse (Toronto). (Statistics through games played on April 14)

Where’s Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Friday, April 19 from 5:45-6:45 p.m. – Hanover Park Little League
Saturday, April 20 from 8-9 a.m. – Central District Baseball League (Elgin)

These last couple of weeks have been moving at an exciting but accelerated pace as countless preparations for last Thursday’s home opener were made. Many of these preparations are operational and to the casual fan, would probably go unnoticed. Inside the ballpark alone, concessions stands, the press box, upstairs suites, clubhouse…the list goes on and on. There is just no magic button to push on Opening Night and have everything ready to roll. It’s definitely a testament to our staff and everyone who has helped us along the way in March and early April.

It was great to see such a supportive crowd on Opening Night. Just shy of 5,000 fans on a cool Thursday evening, fans were into the game from start to finish.  There were certainly some cold and damp games this past homestand with “feels like” temperatures in the low 30′s for yesterday’s game. The team bused out this morning for Appleton, WI, where I can only assume it will NOT be sunny and 70 this week. As I put this blog together, tonight’s scheduled game has been postponed to tomorrow.

It was a fast-paced stretch last week for the team in addition to our staff. The guys arrived last Monday afternoon, April 1, from the Cubs’ spring training complex in Arizona. Equipment issuing, getting player and staff housing situated, meeting with the media, and two days of workouts kept the team busy in advance of last Thursday.

The team had a 2-5 season-opening homestand but there were certainly some bright spots. Rock Shoulders is batting .467 through 7 games and hit an Opening Night homer. Dan Vogelbach is batting .313. Pitcher Pierce Johnson, the Cubs’ 1st round supplemental pick last summer, went 5 innings in his second start of the season.

Around the horn: In addition to Cougars baseball, there are many updates to provide with former Cougars in Major League Baseball as well as across Minor League Baseball.

MLB: If you were at Fifth Third Bank Balllpark for our first homestand, chances are that you saw a new recognition wall behind our press box, listing the names of our 120 alumni who have played or are currently playing in the big leagues.

Through the early stretch of the big league season, a total of 26 former Cougars have appeared in a major league game.

Last year’s Triple Crown winner and AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (’01) is up to his familiar tricks again this season. So far, Cabrera is batting .394 with 13 hits in 33 at-bats for the Tigers. Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz (’03) is batting .353 and a pair of Dodgers and Cougars alums, Andre Ethier (’03) and Adrian Gonzalez (’01) are batting north of .300.

It’s been good to see Boston reliever and former AL Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey (’07) get off to a fast start. Bailey, who missed a good chunk of last season due to an injury, has pitched in 4 games and has yet to allow an earned run. Red Sox teammate Ryan Dempster (’96) has made 2 starts so far. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is a hard-luck 0-2 to open the season, but carries a 3.27 ERA.  Oakland pitcher Dan Straily (’10), who made his major league debut last season, struck out 11 in his first start.

MiLB: Let’s start with the Kansas City Royals’ affiliates since there are so many familiar names from our past affiliation with the Royals in 2011-12. Lexington (Class-A) is managed by last year’s Cougars skipper Brian “Buck” Buchanan. Infielder Michael Antonio (’12) is batting .308 through 7 games. Pitcher Bryan Brickhouse (’12) has a 3.00 ERA in 2 starts while Scott Alexander (’12) has made 2 relief appearances. At Class-A Advanced Wilmington, led by ’11 Cougars manager Vance Wilson, Angel Baez (2012 Cougars Pitcher of the Year) has made one start, allowing 1 earned run in 4 innings. Vance’s rotation also includes Aaron Brooks (’12), Kyle Smith (’12) and last year’s first round pick Kyle Zimmer (’12). Zimmer went 5 innings in his first ’13 start, allowing 2 runs and fanning 8.

There are quite a few players at the Royals’ Double-A affiliate, Northwest Arkansas. Slow starts for both Orlando Calixte (’11-’12) and Brett Eibner (’11). Eibner is 0-for-20 to open the season with 10 strikeouts. Other former Cougars at Double-A include Brian Fletcher, Kane County Player of the Year in 2011, Juan Graterol (’11) and Angel Franco (’11). Pitcher Jason Adam (’11) is in the Naturals’ rotation, along with Sugar Ray Marimon (’11) and Yordano Ventura (’11).  Ventura went 5 innings in his first start.

Working our way backwards to our affiliation with the A’s, which ran through the 2010 season…infielder Jemile Weeks (’08) is batting .345 at Triple-A Sacramento, managed by ’09 Cougars skipper Steve Scarsone. Other position players on the River Cats roster include Conner Crumbliss (’09-’10), Michael Choice (’10)  and Josh Horton (’07). Weeks made his big league debut with Oakland in 2011.

Could Travis Banwart (’07-’08) be the next player to make his big league debut? Coming off a strong 2012 season at Sacramento, the right-hander has a 3.18 ERA in 2 appearances.

Lots of good starts at Double-A Midland, managed by former Cougars skipper Aaron Nieckula. Anthony Aliotti (’10) is batting .450 through 6 games. Dusty Coleman (’09) is batting .368, and pitcher Murphy Smith (’09-’10) has a sparkling 0.82 ERA in 2 starts.

Elsewhere across Minor League Baseball, there are quite a few former Cougars within other major league farm systems that are worth passing along.

Let’s start with Javier Herrera. Remember that name? Herrera was a Cougar in 2005 – 8 seasons ago. After last playing professionally in 2009, Herrera bounced around the independent league circuit through last year before landing with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the new Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

It’s early, but Herrera is batting .250 through 7 games. Thinking back to 2005, Herrera was one of the most talented players on the roster that season, belting 13 home runs, driving in 62 runs, and earning a spot on the Midwest League All-Star team that summer.

It’s very rare to see a player eight years removed from Class-A ball, continuing his quest to reach the major leagues. But Herrera just turned 28 years old, and if he can showcase his talents this season at Double-A, it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Eight years removed from playing at Kane County, Javier Herrera (’05) has returned to the professional level and is at Double-A Richmond in the San Francisco Giants farm system.

Corey Brown (’08) is batting .320 at Triple-A Syracuse (Washington). Brown made his big league debut at Washington in 2011. Travis Buck (’05) is batting .429 at Triple-A Tucson (San Diego). A teammate from ’05, Gregorio Petit, is also on the Tucson roster. Petit made his big league debut with Oakland in 2008; Buck did the same in 2007. A pair of former Cougars hoping for a major league debut this season are at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia): pitcher Justin Friend (’08) and outfielder Jermaine Mitchell (’07).  Infielder Stephen Parker (’09) is at Triple-A Nashville (Milwaukee).

You have to admire the determination by former Cougar John Suomi (’03). Now 32 years old, Suomi is attempting to make the major leagues and is currently at Double-A Reading (Philadelphia). Suomi has advanced as high as Triple-A several times. A total of 9 former Cougars from the ’03 squad have reached the bigs.

Pitcher Sam Demel (’07) has made 2 appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees); Vin Mazzaro (’06) has made 1 appearance at Triple-A Indianapolis (Pittsburgh). Both players are hoping to get back to the major leagues after debuting in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Pitcher Ian Krol (’10), the Chicagoland native who was traded from the A’s organization before this season, is off to a strong start at Double-A Harrisburg (Washington). Krol has a 1.93 ERA in 3 relief appearances. Pitcher Bo Schultz (’10), who was invited to big league camp by Arizona, has made appearances at Triple-A Reno and Double-A Mobile already this season. The Mobile roster includes an ’11 Cougar, outfielder Ryan Stovall.

’10 Cougar Bo Schultz is in the Arizona farm system.

Other former Cougars elsewhere in the minor leagues include Jason Christian (’08-’10) at Double-A New Britain (Minnesota), Mike Gilmartin (’10) at Double-A Pensacola (Cincinnati), Jeff Gray (’06; made his big league debut in ’08) with Triple-A Charlotte (White Sox), Max Peterson (’10) at Class-A Winston-Salem (White Sox), Nate Robertson (’00; made big league debut in ’02) at Triple-A Round Rock (Texas), and Mickey Storey (’09) at Triple-A Buffalo (Toronto).

Thanks to everyone for reading! We’re looking forward to seeing you at the ballpark soon!

-ST

Three weeks ago really wasn’t all that long ago. And now, three weeks from tomorrow (Thursday), the sights, sounds and scents of a baseball game will fill the ballpark as Cougars baseball returns. These three weeks will move very quickly.

Needless to say, it’s been a busy off-season for us. As a minor league baseball front office staff, the off-season is essentially over and the “pre-season” has begun. The month of March, while you won’t see it listed on our pocket schedule, may as well be part of the season itself.  This is the month where minor league staffs such as ours continue to grind away and make final preparations for the real season to come, beginning on April 4th.

Here’s just a small snapshot of activity around our office these days.

- Publications such as the media guide and the game program are undergoing final changes before being proofed and sent to the printer.

- Hotel rooms have been reserved and are being finalized for visiting teams and umpires this season.

- Bus itineraries for the Cougars are being tentatively written for each of the season’s road trips.

- Ticket orders continue to pour in – Ozzie’s Reading Club orders, individual ticket orders, group outings, ticket packages and season ticket orders.

- Prep work is being done for each of the clubhouses.

- Orientation and training sessions for our hundreds of seasonal staff workers is upon us.

- Pocket schedules are being delivered throughout Chicagoland to various businesses.

It’s going to be fun. Will you be here three weeks from tomorrow? We can’t wait to welcome you back home.

The arrival of pocket schedules – a telltale sign that we’re getting closer to Opening Day!

Some other odds and ends:

Which major league team “won the winter”? According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the Cubs were ranked #2. Click HERE to read the story.

Cougars beat writer Kevin Druley from the Kane County Chronicle recently caught up with Cougars manager Mark Johnson. Johnson is currently in the middle of spring training at the Cubs complex in Arizona. Click HERE to read the interview.

In conjunction with the city of Geneva, Cougars banners have been placed on many streetlight posts throughout the city. I caught them this afternoon after lunch. Quite a few of them are along Rt. 38. They look great, wouldn’t you say?

We posed an interesting question to our Facebook fans a few weeks ago: “Who was your favorite all-time Cougars player?” The responses were as varied as you can imagine. Some fans went with a recent Cougar, including some from last year in Michael Antonio and Jack Lopez. Others went “old school”, choosing some Cougars from the early ’90′s such as Gregg Zaun and Shaun Hrabar.

And for each fan who chose a “household” name such as Miguel Cabrera, without question our alum with the most big league success, there were many fans who chose a Cougar who left a positive impression with them, above and beyond their on-field success. Guys like Eddie Kim from the ’04 and ’05 teams, or Jim Kavourias from 2001.

Who is your favorite all-time Cougars player? Please let us know by leaving a comment on this blog post. For me, I’ll go with the following: Grant Desme, Andrew Bailey and Kenny Swab.

Thanks as always for reading!

-ST