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Kane County Cougars sign deal with Diamondbacks

With the Cubs set to showcase their new Class A home in South Bend on Thursday, the Kane County Cougars announced Wednesday they have struck a two-year agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The player development contract, which runs through the 2016 season, fills the last vacancy in the Midwest League and allows the Cougars to move forward with their ownership, management or front office staff in place.

After 17 years playing baseball in South Bend, the Diamondbacks will open Kane County's 25th season as the MLB affiliate of the Cougars, who recently captured the Midwest League title in their second year with the Cubs.

After two years in Geneva, the Cubs announced last week they would play in South Bend.

"We are extremely excited about our new relationship," Cougars owner Dr. Bob Froehlich said in a news release posted on the team's website. "Among many positives that we took from our recent meeting with members of Arizona's front office staff were these: their player development philosophy, their commitment to be passionately involved in the community and the feeling that beginning today, both the Cougars and Diamondbacks organizations can work in harmony with each other as a true partnership."

In 2013, the Cougars became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to reach 10 million fans, and earlier this month they announced several improvements planned for Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva next season. Among them: a batting cage with two hitting tunnels, an expanded weight room and video room for the team, and a new hi-definition videoboard for fans.

In addition, the Cougars will develop a permanent music pavilion on the ballpark grounds. Construction has already begun on a premium seating area on the concourse level behind home plate.

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