The Kane County Cougars, now a Chicago Cubs affiliate, announced the coaching staff for the 2013 season.
Mark Johnson has been named the manager, Ron Villone as pitching coach, and Tom Beyers as hitting coach.
Johnson spent the last two seasons in Boise as manager and led Boise into the Northwest League Championship series last season. Johnson spent eight seasons as a catcher in the Big Leagues and his first four seasons with the Chicago White Sox.
Villone was the pitching coach for Peoria last season and played for 12 different Major League teams in his career.
Beyers has been a coach or coordinator with the Cubs for more than a decade. Beyers managed the 2004 Boise franchise to a Northwest League championship in 2004.
Mike Giovenco picked up a win throwing a scoreless ninth inning as the Kane County Cougars come back from a 4-1 deficit and win 5-4 over Cedar Rapids.
Kane County tied the game with three straight singles by Dean Espy, Kevin David and Justin Trapp. Jack Lopez followed with at three run triple to tie the game and scored the game winner as the Cedar Rapids center fielder dropped the ball as he attempted to throw to the plate.
Giovenco, who is from River Grove, Illinois and attended North Park, moved his record to 3-2 on the season. Mike currently has a 4.82 earned run average on the season.
This years Kane County Cougars current roster is carrying only one player from Illinois - North Park alum and right handed pitcher Mike Giovenco.
Giovenco was a 14th round draft pick in 2010 by the Kansas City Royals and was with the Cougars at the end of last season. Currently Mike has pitched in three games, threw 5 innings and given up one run.
Giovenco is from River Grove Illinois, attended UIC and transferred to North Park in 2009. Mike was also drafted by the Twins in the 26th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign.
The Kansas City Royals announced that Brian Buchanan will be the Kane County Cougars manager for the 2012 season. Buchanan moves up from Rookie affiliate Idaho Falls to take over the Illinois baseball club.
Buchanan was a first round pick by the New York Yankees in 1994 and played in the bigs from 2002 through 2005.
The Cougars will open their 2012 baseball season on April 5th, 2012 in the Quad Cities and open their home schedule on Apirl 9th, 2012 against Beloit. The Kane County Cougars play their games at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva Illinois.
Greg Billo pitched seven shutout innings for the Kane County Cougars in their first round playoff game win against Burlington last night. Billo gave up three hits and struck out seven on 83 pitches last night. The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the the best of three opening round of the Midwest League Playoffs with a 4-0 victory.
Billo was a 28th round draft pick in 2008 and signed out of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park Illinois.
Mike Giovenco made his Kane County Cougar baseball debut on Friday night in Lansing Illinois allowing one hit, a walk and striking out three in two innings.
Giovenco was drafted out of North Park University in the 14th round by the Royals in 2010. Before coming to Kane County, Giovenco went 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings at Idaho Falls.
Mike now stays with his family in Roselle Illinois.
The Kane County Cougars are currently 19-27 on the season in the Class A Midwest League sitting at 12 1/2 games out of first.
RHP Greg Billo, Palos Heights Illinois, has 2 wins and 1 loss with a 1.34 ERA in 40 and 1/3rd innings pitched for the Cougars.
RHP Nick Wooley, Edwardsville Illinois, was released by the Cougars on May 16th.
LHP Jon Keck, Joliet Illinois, is 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 and 1/3 innings pitched.
Six foot four inch 221 pound right handed pitcher Greg Billo was hoping last fall that the Kansas City Royals would choose Kane County instead of moving their low A team to Savannah Georgia. Greg got what he was hoping for, a Royals agreement to move to Kane County and a spot on the Cougars Roster.
Billo was drafted in the 28th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft out of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park Illinois. In his three seasons of pro ball Greg has a 6-11 record with a 3.97 ERA. So far this season with the Cougars, Greg is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3rd innings pitched.
Right Handed Pitcher Nick Wooley from Rend Lake College in Ana Illinois is playing for the Kane County Cougars this season.
Nick was drafted in the 12th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Nick also attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and was drafted out of William Woods University.
Nick's stats so far this season with the Cougars:
2 appearances with a 3.86 ERA in 4 and 2/3rds innings of work.
The Kane County Cougars are holding a free coaches clinic on Saturday February 5th 2011 featuring instructors from both the Kane County Cougars and the Kansas City Royals organizations.
The clinic is intended for adult coaches and not youth players and is open to the public.
Clinic instructors include:
Vance Johnson - Kane County Cougars Manger
Mark Davis - Kansas City Royals minor league pitching coordinator
Tony Tijerina - Kansas City Royals minor league field coordinator
Andre Davis - Kansas City Royals minor league hitting coach.
You can download a clinic brochure by following the link below:
Kane County Cougar Coaches Clinic
The Kane County Cougars, now a Kansas City Royals affiliate, have named Vance Wilson as their field manager for the 2011 season. Wilson spent parts of eight seasons as a backup catcher in the major leagues with the Mets and Tigers and finished his career with the Royals in their farm system.
Joining Wilson on the staff will be hitting coach Damon Hollins and pitching coach Jim Brower. Hollins played 256 games in the majors, 241 with Tampa Bay and his last season as a player-coach with the Royals affiliate in the Appalachian League. Brower spent parts of nine seasons on major league rosters playing for eight different teams from 1999-2007.
The Kane County Cougars announced the signing of a two-year player development contract with the Kansas City Royals.
This is the fourth different Major League Baseball Club affiliation since 1991 which began with the Baltimore Orioles then the Florida Marlins and most recently the Oakland Athletics.
The agreement does not affect ownership, management or front office personnel of the Kane County Cougars.
Local Illinois baseball players and coaches on the Kane County Cougar Roster for 2010:
Field Manger Aaron Nieckula was drafted by Oakland in the 22nd round of the 1998 June draft, attended the University of Illinois and resides in Aurora.
Pitcher Ian Krol was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 draft, attended Neuqua Valley High School and resides in Naperville.
Baseball in Illinois News
The Kane County Cougars will hold its annual Coaches Clinic on Saturday February 27th from 9:30 am until noon at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva Illinois.
Although open to the public, the purpose of the free clinic is to specifically instruct coaches, and therefore, is intended for adult coaches rather than youth players.
This year's clinic will include several professional instructors from the Cougars, as well as Kane County's parent club, the Oakland Athletics, who will be present to share coaching philosophies, tips and offer specific guidance in the areas of on-field execution, training, and coaching style. Participants will be divided into small groups and visit each station throughout the morning session. Guests are encouraged to bring notepads or video recorders for their convenience.
The following clinic instructors are expected to attend: Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula, former Cougars hitting coach Matt Winters and athletic trainer Mark Nilles.
The clinic is provided free-of-charge as a community service from the Cougars and Athletics. A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided for attendees. Interested attendees are asked to RSVP by calling the Cougars at (630) 232-8811 or emailing dedison@kanecountycougars.com. Clinic instructors are subject to change.
From Baseball in Illinois News Sources
The Athletics tinkered with their lower-level Minor League affiliates on Wednesday by flip-flopping Steve Scarsone and Aaron Nieckula. Scarsone will now move up to manage Class A Stockton, while Nieckula will head Class A Kane County.
In his first season as skipper in the A's farm system in 2009, Scarsone led Kane County to a 76-64 record and a playoff berth. Prior to joining the A's, he spent two seasons managing in the D-backs' organization.
Nieckula was at the helm for the High A Stockton Ports in '09, with the club finishing 61-79. He began his coaching career as hitting coach for the Kane County Cougars from 2004-05, then managed the club from 2006-08. In his four seasons as manager, Nieckula has a 275-281 record, including playoff appearances in '06 and '07.
In addition, Nathan Brooks was named trainer for Stockton, while Brian Thorson will serve as trainer for Kane County. All other Minor League coaching and staff assignments remain the same.
