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Rogers embraces mentor's role on Cougars

Things were about as loose as they could be Tuesday for the Kane County Cougars.

They worked out during the afternoon in preparation for their upcoming Midwest League championship series against Lake County (Ohio). Game 1 is Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, with Game 2 Thursday. The final three games of this best-of-five series are scheduled for Lake County.

A few Cougars players got ready by tossing a football around before taking a light session of batting practice.

The only casualty of Tuesday might have been first baseman Jacob Rogers, who was stung near the knee by one of the many bees flying around the field.

“I caught the ball, and it stung me, but it will be all right,” Rogers said.

If you're looking for one player who kept things both loose and together during a record-breaking season (91 regular-season wins) for the Cougars, it's the 25-year-old Rogers.

It's a name you might have missed in the deep and talented farm system of the Chicago Cubs, the parent club of the Class A Cougars.

Rogers was taken in the 40th round of the 2012 amateur draft out of Mt. Olive College in North Carolina.

Know this: There is no 41st round.

Yep, Rogers was the last player taken by the Cubs in the 2012 draft, a draft that was headlined by No. 1 pick Albert Almora, himself a Cougar last year.

“You try not to think about what round you were drafted in,” Rogers said. “You try to be one of the guys. You come out here and work every day, and I hope I get my chance. I got an opportunity to get drafted. I'm thankful to the Cubs for selecting me in the 40th round and getting my opportunity to play, and I'm going to try to make the most of it.”

Among the 50 players (not including major-league rehab appearances) who have paraded through Kane County this season was Kyle Schwarber, this year's No. 1 draft pick. Other highly regarded prospects include or have included Jeimer Candelario, Jacob Hannemann, Duane Underwood and Paul Blackburn, among others.

Yet manager Mark Johnson — the Midwest League manager of the year — cited Rogers as one of his leaders.

“You've got to have those guys on minor-league teams throughout the system,” Johnson said. “It used to be in Triple-A you had a lot of those guys. This is extremely important to have them at this level. This is the first full season for a lot of these guys and the first professional season, and they don't know what to do.

“If you don't have one or two or three of those guys that can kind of lead them or show them, whether they have to say anything or not, but (younger players) can watch how they go about their business and watch how they take ground balls and how they respect the other teammates. If you don't have those guys, it's tough. There's only so much guidance we (coaches and managers) can do. You need a guy next to you who's a little older to kind of show you the ropes.”

It's a role Rogers seems to embrace.

“I pride myself on being a good teammate and helping these guys out,” he said. “I'm one of the older guys. MJ is great. He's one of the best managers I've ever had. Coming to the ballpark is easy, and I enjoy it.

“It's a long season, and you're going to have your ups and downs. Try to let it the game come to you. It's been awesome. It's been a great ride. We're like a family here so it's a blast coming to the ballpark every day.”

The Cougars will pitch Jen-Ho Tseng against Lake County in Game 1 and Underwood in Game 2. Johnson acknowledges that the team is loose. He also says the players ready.

“It's finally gotten down to this, and this is what we've been working for all year,” Johnson said. “It's fun. It doesn't seem like any of them are worried or uptight. I'm sure there will be some nerves a little bit. It's some of these guys' first full season and they don't know what to expect. It's great.”

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