Cougars Make Roster Changes
The Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, recently added pitcher Craig Italiano and outfielder Larry Cobb to the Kane County roster. Both players spent the early part of April in extended spring training.
Italiano is a 2nd round draft pick of the Athletics in 2005. Baseball America rates Italiano’s fastball as the best in the A’s minor league organization.
Cobb, who was selected by Oakland in the 27th round of the 2006 draft, has already added some punch to manager Aaron Nieckula's lineup. Through five games with the Cougars, the 21-year old is batting .333 and is leading the team with 9 RBI.
To make room for both Italiano and Cobb on the active 25-man roster, the Cougars have placed pitcher Chad Lee and infielder Haas Pratt on the disabled list. Lee, a 6-foot-4 right hander, experienced shoulder tendonitis shortly before the season opener and had not taken the mound for the Cougars in a 2007 regular season game. Pratt has played in eight games for the Cougars, batting .100 with three hits in 30 at-bats.
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