New players looking forward to first season with Cougars

The field looks great, the players are ready, and the home opener is less than a week away.

It’s baseball season again in the Tri-Cities, the 21st for the Kane County Cougars. The first as an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

The Cougars, who held their annual media day Tuesday, have been going through workouts at Elfstrom Stadium this week in preparation for their season opener on the road against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Thursday, before returning next Monday afternoon for their home opener.

“Opening Day is always special,” Kane County manager Vance Wilson said. “We had a great spring training, but it dragged toward the end. It’s a new season, it’s good to be out here, and we’re excited to get started.”

This will be Wilson’s first year as a manager or coach after spending eight seasons in the big leagues.

“I had the good fortune of playing for Jim Leyland, so I plan to pattern my approach after his,” Wilson said. “I’m a communicator, and first and foremost I want my players to know I care about them as people.”

Kansas City ended their Midwest League affiliation with the Burlington Bees at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Soon after, the Royals signed a new player development agreement with the Cougars, who had previously served as a farm team for the Oakland A’s. The A’s subsequently signed an agreement with Burlington, so the two Midwest League teams essentially swapped parent clubs.

As an affiliate of the Oakland A’s, the Cougars were known for their pitching, an area of the game that franchise has long emphasized. Pitching will be a big part of this team’s game as well, but don’t be too surprised if this year’s Cougars lead with their offense.

“We’ve got some guys who can really drive the ball and put up big numbers,” Wilson said. “We’ve also got some guys like Angel Franco and Gerald Hall who can run. The biggest thing for me is to make sure all players have an opportunity to produce, whatever their strength.”

Brett Eibner, a second-round draft pick out of the University of Arkansas in 2010, will be a key part of that offense.

“There are times when I can get too big with my swing and try to do too much,” Eibner said. “I need to stay within myself, take the ball where it’s pitched and hit it that way.”

Eibner hit .333 and slugged 22 homers in his last year of college ball. A center fielder with an easy swing, he was named as the 10th best prospect in the Royals’ organization by Baseball America.

“I take a lot pride in playing center field,” Eibner said. “It’s a lot easier to play defense than it is to hit. I just go out there with the same approach every day.”

Geulin Beltre will see a lot of time in right field, while a player with major league pedigree will be spending his summer in left and batting in the middle of the order. The Royals have high hopes for Brian Fletcher, the son of former White Sox infielder and 15-year major leaguer Scott Fletcher.

“The knowledge I got from my dad really prepared me for this,” Fletcher said. “I was with my dad a lot when he was a player, and the way he played the game has inspired me.”

Fletcher is an all-around offensive threat who has always hit for a high average, and showed some power as a standout at Auburn.

“I just try to hit the ball hard, gap to gap, and try not to do too much,” Fletcher said.

Though Wilson stresses his team’s versatility on offense, power should be a big part of the story with the 2011 Cougars. No one is going to be looked to more when it comes to the long ball than 6-foot-7 Murray Watts.

“I feel good coming out of spring training and I’m ready to get going,” Watts said. “We have a lot of really talented players, and it’s fun to play on a team like this.”

Watts, who hit 14 homers and knocked in 57 runs in 69 games last season at Idaho Falls, will provide a big target over at first base. Hall at shortstop, Yowill Espinal at second, and Franco at third will round out the starting infield.

Travis Jones and Ryan Jenkins will be catching a staff that should be both deep and versatile.

“We didn’t get our pitching staff together until the end of spring training, but it’s a good group,” Wilson said.

Wilson calls his one through three of Leonel Santiago, Leondy Perez and Sugar Ray Marimon, his “Three-headed Monster.”

“They all have strong arms and great secondary pitches,” Wilson said.

Though Wilson stresses that the three are close in ability and overall development, 21-year-old Santiago will get the ball for Thursday’s season opener.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to be the starting pitcher on opening day,” Santiago said. “That’s something every pitcher would like to do.”

Wilson believes that starter Keaton Hayenga has the highest ceiling despite struggling at Burlington last season. Palos Heights native Greg Billo and Crawford Simmons will rotate as the fifth starter.

Chase Boruff, Mitch Hodge and Chas Byrne all saw some time closing games last season. Jon Keck figures to see a fair amount of opportunities as the only lefty on the staff.

With all that is new about this year’s Cougars, there’s an established tradition that many of the players are looking forward to.

“I’m excited about the fan support here and the big crowds,” Watts said. ”Hopefully we’ll put on a show for them.”