Arizona Diamondbacks announce affiliation with Kane County Cougars
Sep 25, 2014, 2:07 AM | Updated: 2:07 am
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced a two-year player development contract with the Kane County Cougars on Wednesday.
The Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois. They are the reigning champions of the Midwest League.
The affiliation does not affect Kane County’s ownership, management or front office staff, and is effective through the 2016 season.
“We are thrilled and honored with our new partnership in Kane County,” said Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall. “It is important for us to align ourselves with affiliates who possess similar philosophies and values as us. The Kane County Cougars Baseball Club is an ideal fit, as they are committed to their fans, to winning, and most importantly, their community. This new home for us will provide our young players with a safe, welcoming, and enthusiastic setting.”
Kane County alumni who played for the Diamondbacks this season include shortstop Cliff Pennington and pitchers Trevor Cahill and Bo Schultz.
“We are extremely excited about our new relationship with the Arizona Diamondbacks,” said Cougars owner Dr. Bob Froehlich. “Among many positives that we took from our recent meeting with members of Arizona’s front office staff were these: their player development philosophy, their commitment to be passionately involved in their community and the feeling that beginning today, both the Cougars and Diamondbacks organizations can work in harmony with each other as a true partnership.”
Arizona is the sixth Major League affiliation for Kane County, which has aligned with the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals and, most recently, the Chicago Cubs.
“Today’s announcement is great news for Cougars fans, who will be very impressed by Arizona’s philosophies and their commitment to the Cougars organization,” said Cougars Vice President and general manager Curtis Haug. “We’d like to thank the Cubs organization for these past two seasons which culminated in a Midwest League Championship earlier this month. As we look towards our 25th anniversary season, we are thrilled to begin this great partnership with a first-class organization in the Arizona Diamondbacks.”
The Cougars join the Reno Aces (Triple-A), Mobile BayBears (Double-A), Visalia Rawhide (A-Advanced), Hillsboro Hops (Short-A), and rookie league teams in Montana, Arizona, and the Dominican Republic in the Diamondbacks’ farm system.
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