Second Half Changes: Johnson Promoted, Cuban Signee Joins Team

The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced that pitcher Pierce Johnson has been promoted to Class-A Advanced Daytona. The Cougars have received pitcher Armando Rivero from the Cubs spring training complex in Arizona and pitcher Sheldon McDonald from Daytona. This morning's roster moves bring the Cougars' active roster to 24 players as the team kicks off the season's second half tonight in Davenport, Iowa against Quad Cities.

Johnson, the 43^rd overall selection in the June 2012 draft, was the Cougars' Opening Night starter on April 4^th. Seven of the top 30 Cubs organizational prospects according to Baseball America were on the team's Opening Night roster, and Johnson is the first of the seven to earn a promotion to Daytona. The right-hander started 13 games and was 5-5 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 74 batters in 69.2 innings. In his final Cougars start last Sunday, Johnson worked 7 innings, allowing just four hits without yielding a run. Johnson is the fourth Cougar this season to receive a promotion to Daytona, joining Chadd Krist, Wes Darvill and Yaniel Cabezas.

Rivero, a Cuban pitcher who was signed by the Cubs this past spring, turned 25 years old in February. In his final season in Cuba in 2010-11, Rivero had a 3.06 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 21 walks in 47 innings. McDonald (33^rd round, 2011) appeared in 33 games with Class-A Peoria last season, posting a 1.89 ERA. This season at Daytona, McDonald was 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 16 games.