By Craig Lynch –
Rick Short, hitting coach of the Class A Kane County Cougars, was graduated from Larkin High School in 1991. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1994. He spent 11 years in minor leagues before making his first appearance in a big league game. “I was called up by Washington in 2005,” Short said. “I was facing Joel Pinero and I was able to get a hit. That was quite exciting.”
Short played in Wrigley Field. “It was around the Fourth of July. I pinch hit against Ryan Dempster (of the host Chicago Cubs) and I walked. Short was glad there were friends and family there to see him.
Short is the hitting coach for the Cougars. “(The Cougars’) Northwestern Medicine Field is not a home run ball park,” said Short. “That may be better for young hitters because they can use the whole field.”
Hitters such as Ernie De La Trinidad and Yoel Yanqui have been experiencing success using that approach.
Short played five years in Japan and scouted for the Arizona Diamondbacks for seven years. “Scouting became a grind and I was ready for something new,” said Short. “I spent five years in Japan. It is hard to stick over there as an American so I was glad to be able to play there so long.”
Short said his time in Elgin at Larkin was good. “We went to the State tournament (in 1991) in Springfield. We lost to West Aurora (10-4) in the first game, but at least we made it.”
• Joe Brand is serving as radio voice of the Cougars. He is in his fifth year. Brand, 27, was born in Oak Lawn.
“I graduated from Marist and I was a student at Illinois State.” For a young man Brand has had a lot of experience in baseball.
“I did internships with the Traverse City Beach Bums and Windy City Thunderbolts in the Frontier League,” said Brand.
Brand credits previous Cougar announcer Wayne Randazzo for helping him. “I met Wayne and he was looking for a number two (on radio play-by-play) and after he left in 2015 I got the job as number one.”
Brand talked about the job of a minor league announcer. “There are a lot of buses and late nights, but that’s what we signed up for,” he said.
Brand broadcast University of Illinois Chicago basketball and other sports.
Brand lists Fort Wayne, Lansing, and West Michigan as his favorite parks beside Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva. When asked which Chicago team he supported, he was diplomatic. “I grew upon the South Side, but my dad’s side were all Cubs fans. I enjoyed watching both.”
Brand’s goal is to make the big leagues. He knows it will be tough.
“Right now I’m going to enjoy my time here,” he said.