Kane County Cougars


The Kane County Cougars are a professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois, and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. They play their home games at Northwestern Medicine Field. From 1991 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest League.
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History

The Midwest League came to Kane County in 1991 when the Wausau Timbers relocated to Geneva, IL. The Wausau Midwest League franchise was previously based in Decatur, Illinois. The team has been known as the Cougars since moving to Kane County. They were affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles in 1991 and 1992, with the Florida Marlins from 1993 to 2002, the Oakland Athletics from 2003 until 2010, the Kansas City Royals for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and the Chicago Cubs for the 2013 and 2014 seasons before affiliating with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.
As a Marlins farm team, some key contributors to the 2003 World Series championship team played in Kane County on their way to the big leagues. Miguel Cabrera has had a notable career and 2003 Series MVP Josh Beckett played for the Cougars in 2000, while Dontrelle Willis had the league's best winning percentage and earned run average in 2002.
The Cougars play their home games at Northwestern Medicine Field, built in 1991. The franchise attendance record of 523,222 was set in 2001. The Cougars are perennially among the league leaders in attendance. On July 20, 2013, the Cougars became the first Class A team to attract 10 million fans. Nancy Faust, after 40 years with the Chicago White Sox, was the stadium organist for selected Cougar home games until her retirement after the 2015 season.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars' season was cancelled along with the rest of Minor League Baseball. Later that year, the team was cut from the Midwest League and affiliated baseball as part of Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues. The team considered becoming a member of the MLB Draft League before joining the American Association, an independent MLB Partner League.
The team won their first American Association Miles Wolff Cup Final in 2024, having gone undefeated in the playoffs. Following their 2024 championship, the team was invited to participate in the 2025 Baseball Champions League Americas tournament.
In March 2025, the team was sold by Dr. Bob and Cheryl Froehlich to REV Entertainment. In 2025 despite having a record under.500, the Cougars were able to defend their title going back-to-back for the first time in franchise history.
The team has led the American Association in attendance since joining in 2021, and led all MLB Partner Leagues in 2022.

Mascots

The team's mascots are Ozzie T. Cougar and his sister Annie T. Cougar.

Notable alumni

Notable franchise alumni include:
NameYears played for CougarsYear of MLB debutNotable Accomplishments
Casey Crosby2025–present2012
Blake Rutherford2025–present2023
Robby Martin2025–present
Brett Phillips20252017
Chris Mazza2025–present2019
Hayden Dunhurst2024–25
Greg Mahle20242016
Héctor Sánchez202320112012 World Series Champion
James Reeves2023
T.J. Bennett2023
Pete Kozma202320112011 World Series Champion
Cornelius Randolph2022–2410th overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, 2024 Miles Wolff Cup MVP
Mitch Nay2022
Nick Franklin20222013
Mike Morin20222014
Steve Lombardozzi Jr.20222011
Sherman Johnson20222018
Jack Anderson2022
Bryce Brentz20222014
Ryan Tapani2022-
Vance Worley2021–222010
Josh Tols2021
Kacy Clemens2021
Jake Cosart2021
Anfernee Seymour2021
Blaze Alexander20192024
Levi Kelly2019
Luis Frías20192021
Kristian Robinson2019
Dominic Fletcher20192023
Buddy Kennedy20192022
José Cuas20192022
Alek Thomas201920222019 Midwest League MVP
Geraldo Perdomo20192021
José Caballero20182023
Jhoan Durán20182022
Matt Peacock20182021
José Herrera2017–192022
Jazz Chisholm Jr.2017–182020
Carlos Bustamante2017–18
Tommy Eveld2017
J. J. Hoover20172012
Connor Grey2017pitched perfect game against Clinton LumberKings Sep. 1
Ben DeLuzio20172022
Anfernee Grier2017
Riley Smith20172020
Colin Poche20172019
Kevin Ginkel20172019
Jon Duplantier20172019
Luis Alejandro Basabe2016–18
Marcus Wilson2016–172022
Sam McWilliams2016–17
Junior García2016–17
Gabe Speier20162019
Yuhei Nakaushiro2016
Taylor Clarke20162019
Joel Payamps20162019
Alex Young20162019
Gabriel Moya20162017
Touki Toussaint20152018
Wei-Chieh Huang2015; 20172019
Sergio Alcántara2015–162020
Ryan Burr2015–162018
Steve Hathaway20152016
Oscar Hernández20152015Called-up to the Diamondbacks less than one month after being promoted to the Cougars
Dawel Lugo20152018
Josh Taylor20152019
Ildemaro Vargas20152017
Michael Pérez20152018
Zac Curtis20152016Set team record for most saves in a season at 33
Víctor Reyes20152018
Brad Keller20152018
Steven Hathaway20152016
Kyuji Fujikawa20142013
Ryan Sweeney20142006
Jasvir Rakkar2014
Duane Underwood Jr.20142018
Jen-Ho Tseng20142017
Jacob Hannemann20142017
Paul Blackburn20142017
Víctor Caratini20142017
Mark Zagunis20142017
Zack Godley20142015
Kyle Schwarber20142015MLB All-Star, 2016 World Series Champion
Gerardo Concepción20142016
David Bote2013–142018
Pierce Johnson2013–142017
Jeimer Candelario2013–142016
Luis Valbuena20132008
Trevor Gretzky2013
Shawn Camp20132004
Rafael Dolis20132011
Lendy Castillo20132012
Armando Rivero2013
Tayler Scott20132019
Dillon Maples20132017
Daniel Vogelbach20132016MLB All-Star
Rob Zastryzny20132016
Félix Peña20132016
Willson Contreras201320162× MLB All-Star, 2016 World Series Champion
Albert Almora201320162016 World Series Champion
Marco Hernández20132016
Andrew McKirahan20132015
Scott Baker20132005
Jack López20122021
Kyle Zimmer20122019
Brooks Pounders201220162014 No-Hitter
Jorge Bonifacio20122017
Andrew Triggs20122016
Tim Melville20122016
Scott Alexander20122015
Aaron Brooks20122014
Lane Adams2011–122014
Orlando Calixte2011–122015
Fernando Cruz20112022
Ryan Jenkins2011
Jason Adam20112018
Juan Graterol20112016
Yordano Ventura201120132015 World Series Champion
Brett Eibner20112016
Cheslor Cuthbert20112015
Sugar Ray Marimon20112015
Justin Marks20102014
Bo Schultz20102014
Michael Choice20102013
Max Stassi20102013
Ian Krol20102013
Daniel Straily20102012
Murphy Smith2009–20102018
Shawn Haviland2009
Pedro Figueroa20092012
Grant Desme2009
Dusty Coleman20092015
Tyler Ladendorf20092015
Mickey Storey20092012
Pedro Figuero20092012
Scott Mitchinson2008
Tyson Ross20082010MLB All-Star
Corey Brown20082011
Jemile Weeks20082011
Travis Banwart2007
Trevor Cahill20072009MLB All-Star, 2016 World Series Champion
Sean Doolittle200720122× MLB All-Star, 2019 World Series Champion
Andrew Bailey200720092× MLB All-Star, 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Andrew Carignan20072011
Sam Demel20072010
Henry Rodríguez20072009
Joey Newby2006–07
Vin Mazzaro20062009
Ben Jukich2006
Jeff Gray20062008
Anthony Recker20062011
Justin Sellers20062011
Brad Kilby20062009
Jeff Baisley200620082006 Midwest League MVP, holds team record of 110 RBI in a season
Cliff Pennington20052008
Ryan Webb20052009
Tommy Everidge20052009
Gregorio Petit20052008
Kevin Melillo20052007
Connor Robertson20052007
Travis Buck20052007
Chris Lubanski2004
Dallas Braden20042007Perfect game in 2010
Huston Street200420052× MLB All-Star, 2005 AL Rookie of the Year
Danny Putnam20042007
Jason Windsor20042006
Marcus McBeth2003; 20052007
Santiago Casilla2003–042004
Dustin Majewski2003
John Baker20032008
Joe Blanton200320042008 World Series Champion
Nelson Cruz200320057× MLB All-Star, 2019 All-MLB First Team, 2020 All-MLB Second Team, 2011 ALCS MVP, 2× Silver Slugger, 2× Edgar Martínez Award, 2014 MLB Home Run Leader, 2017 AL RBI Leader, 2020 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, 2013 All-World Baseball Classic Team
Andre Ethier200320062× MLB All-Star, 2011 Gold Glove, 2009 Silver Slugger
Bill Murphy20032007
Jared Burton20032007
Shane Komine20032006
Frailyn Florián2002
Dontrelle Willis200220032× MLB All-Star, 2003 World Series Champion, 2003 NL Rookie of the Year, 2005 NL Wins Leader
Jason Stokes20022002 Midwest League MVP, tied for team record with 27 home runs in a season, team record of.341 batting average in a season
Ronald Belisario20022009
Jeff Fulchino20022006
Eric Reed20022006
Jim Kavourias2001
Miguel Cabrera2001200311× MLB All-Star, 2003 World Series Champion, 2× AL MVP, 2012 Triple Crown, 7× Silver Slugger, 2× AL Hank Aaron Award, 4× AL Batting Champion, 2× AL Home Run Leader, 2× AL RBI Leader
Adrián González200120042001 Midwest League MVP, 5× MLB All-Star, 4× Gold Glove, 2× Silver Slugger, 2014 NL RBI Leader
Josh Willingham200120042012 Silver Slugger
Randy Messenger20012005
Denny Bautista20012004
Hansel Izquierdo20012002
Vladimir Núñez20011998
Chip Ambres2000–012005
Kevin Hooper2000–012005
Josh Wilson2000–012005
Josh Beckett200020013× MLB All-Star, 2× World Series Champion, 2003 World Series MVP, 2007 ALCS MVP, 2007 MLB Wins Leader
Luis Ugueto20002002
Matt Treanor1999; 20012004
Nate Robertson1999–20002002
Claudio Vargas19992003
Jeff Bailey19992007
Chris Aguila19992004
Kevin Olsen19992001
Blaine Neal19992001
Brett Roneberg1998–99
A. J. Burnett19981999MLB All-Star, 2009 World Series Champion, 2008 AL Strikeout Leader, 2001 No-Hitter, holds team record for most strikeouts in a season at 186
Brandon Harper19982006
Matt Erickson19982004
Jason Pearson19982002
Ross Gload19982000
Michael Tejera19981999
Gary Knotts1997–982001
Héctor Almonte1997–981999
Geoff Duncan1997
Scott Podsednik19972001MLB All-Star, 2005 World Series Champion, 2004 NL Stolen Base Leader
Julio Ramírez19971999
Brent Billingsley19971999
Earl Agnoly1996–97
Roosevelt Brown1996–971999
Ryan Dempster199619982× MLB All-Star, 2013 World Series Champion
Álex González19961998MLB All-Star, 2003 World Series Champion
Mark Kotsay19961997
Randy Winn19961998MLB All-Star
Nate Rolison19962000
Mike Duvall19961998
Josh Booty1995–961996
Amaury García1995–961999
Luis Castillo199519963× MLB All-Star, 2003 World Series Champion, 3× Gold Glove, 2× NL Stolen Base Leader
Ryan Jackson19951998
Brian Meadows19951998
John Roskos19951998
Gabe González19951998
Todd Dunwoody1994–951997
Brendan Kingman1994
Antonio Alfonseca199419971997 World Series Champion, 2000 NL Rolaids Relief Man Award, 2000 NL Saves Leader
Félix Heredia199419961997 World Series Champion
Kevin Millar199419982004 World Series Champion
Bryan Ward19941998
David Berg19941998
Will Cunnane19941997Holds team record of lowest ERA in a season at 1.43
Andy Larkin19941996
Billy McMillon19941996
Ralph Milliard19941996
Marc Valdes19941995
Mike Redmond1993–9419982003 World Series Champion
John Lynch1993
Héctor Carrasco19931994
Charles Johnson199319942× MLB All-Star, 1997 World Series Champion, 4× Gold Glove
Édgar Rentería199319965× MLB All-Star, 2× World Series Champion, 2010 World Series MVP, 2× Gold Glove, 3× Silver Slugger
Chris Clapinski19931999
Vic Darensbourg19931998
Matt Whisenant19931997
Anthony Saunders19931997
Alex Ochoa199219952002 World Series Champion
B. J. Waszgis19922000
Jimmy Haynes19921995
Rick Krivda19921995
Curtis Goodwin19921995
Scott Klingenbeck19921994
José Mercedes19921994
Scott McClain1991–921998
Bobby Chouinard1991–921996
Clayton Byrne1991
Joe Borowski199119952007 AL Saves Leader
Tom Martin19911997
Brad Pennington19911993First Kane County Cougars player to be called-up to the MLB
Gregg Zaun199119951997 World Series Champion
Jim Dedrick19911995
Vaughn Eshelman19911995

Also see :Category: Kane County Cougars players.