Jemile Weeks and Anthony Capra Make the Leap to the Midwest League with the Kane County Cougars

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – GENEVA, IL – The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, have announced that infielder Jemile Weeks and pitcher Anthony Capra, both 2008 draft picks by Oakland, have joined the Cougars. Both players will arrive in Chicago this afternoon and are eligible for this evening’s 6:30 p.m. game against the Peoria Chiefs at Elfstrom Stadium. The most recent roster move brings the Cougars’ active roster to 25 players – the Midwest League maximum.

Weeks’ arrival generates much excitement as the heralded collegiate player becomes the highest-ever Oakland draft pick to arrive at Kane County (1^st Rd, 12^th overall) since the organization became an A’s affiliate prior to the 2003 season. Just yesterday, the 21-year old signed with the Cougars’ parent club which included a reported $1.9 million signing bonus. Overall, Weeks is the highest draft pick nabbed by the A’s since pitcher Barry Zito was taken 9^th overall in 1999.

Your Ad Here

In his final collegiate season at the University of Miami, Weeks batted .363 as a junior with 13 home runs, 62 RBIs, a .452 OBP and 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts. He was a key component of a Hurricanes squad that went 53-11 and was the top seed in this year’s College World Series in Omaha. Weeks picked up numerous accolades over the course of the season, including selections to the All-ACC first team and the Louisville Slugger All-American first team.

Weeks has professional baseball in his bloodlines as older brother Rickie was the 2^nd overall pick in 2003 and currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. The younger Weeks was drafted out of high school in the 8^th round of the 2005 draft, but did not sign. As a prepster at Lake Brantley HS in Altamonte Springs, FL, Weeks shared the same high school as former Cougar Kevin Melillo and current big leaguers Jason Varitek and Felipe Lopez.

Capra (4^th Rd) makes his professional debut and adds a valuable left-handed arm to the Cougars pitching staff. In 15 appearances (14 of which were starts), the collegian from Wichita State was 9-1 from the hill this season with a 3.54 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 76.1 innings for the Shockers. Interestingly enough, one of Capra’s former teammates from Wichita State, pitcher Travis Banwart was also drafted in the 4^th round by the A’s (2007) and began the ’08 campaign at Kane County before receiving a promotion to High-A Stockton. Capra resides from Arvada, CO – the same town where former Cougar and current hitting coach Haas Pratt resides.

Kane County (7-11) opens a three-game series this evening at home against the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs affiliate managed by Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. as the Cougars’ Scott Hodsdon (4-7, 3.47) squares off against Kevin Kreier (3-2, 3.49).

An updated roster is attached with this release.

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!

Roster