Hobson takes over Cougars

For the first time in their 27-year history in the minors, the Kane County Cougars will have a manager - Butch Hobson - who once held the same position in Major League Baseball.

Hobson had his most productive years during his eight-season MLB career in Boston, and the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native managed the Red Sox from 1992 through the strike-shortened 1994 campaign.

Kane County, a Class A member of the Midwest League and affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, introduced Hobson during the Cougars' annual media day on Tuesday.

The Cougars will have their home opener Thursday night against the Clinton Lumberjacks at the re-christened Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

"It's a beautiful little ballpark here," said the 65-year-old Hobson. "It's going to be a fun year. I'm excited."

The Cougars will have a pitcher-dominated team with 13 hurlers on the 25-man roster.

"I like our starting pitching," Hobson said. "People are going to love (Jose) Herrera behind the plate. He knows how to get the pitchers to throw strikes. He is one of the top prospects in the organization."

Emilio Vargas, one of five Latin American players on the team, will start Thursday's game.

Sam McWilliams will start for the Cougars when the teams move across the Mississippi River for the middle portion of their five-game run of this extended weekend.

McWilliams' 6-foot-7 stature could present a challenge for Cougars' opponents.

"I think so to a different degree," McWilliams said on the potential for intimidation. "Every batter is different."

The Cougars' 12 position players have a common theme, according to McWilliams.

"Definitely speed," McWilliams said. "I think we're going to be able to steal bases, score runs that sort of way, and manufacture runs. We have a solid pitching staff."

One of the Cougars' most promising prospects is teenager Jasrado Chisholm, a middle infielder.

"He's very excited for a 19-year-old kid," Hobson said of Chisholm. "He's a special talent."

Paxton De La Garza is also a member of the Cougars' six-man rotating infield crew.

"We had a great spring training," De La Garza said. "We're getting a little acclimated to the weather. It's a little different than Scottsdale. I think we have a great group of guys."

Hobson will be joined on the bench by pitching coach Rich Sauveur and hitting instructor Jose Amado. Darrin Garner will handle first-base coaching duties.

The Midwest League features two separate seasons in terms of the team races.

Hobson, who had managed independent league teams since 2000, relishes his opportunity in Kane County.

"We have some talented players," Hobson said. "It's going to be fun watching them grow."