In the Cougars’ Den

Who’s hot

Entering Wednesday, outfielder Trevor Gretzky was batting .370 (10 for 27) in eight games as a Cougar. His five-game hitting streak ended Monday.

Who’s not

Infielder Brad Zapenas is hitting .176 (3 for 17) since rejoining the Cougars from Advanced-A Daytona earlier this month.

Star watch

The parent Minnesota Twins have promoted their share of top prospects from Cedar Rapids this season, but right fielder Adam Brett Walker II, a third-round pick in 2012, has stuck around. As the visiting Cougars prepared to open a three-game series against the Kernels on Wednesday, Walker led the Midwest League in home runs (26) and RBIs (106) while batting .280.

Noteworthy

With only a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series against Peoria remaining on the home schedule, the Cougars’ attendance average of 5,994 fans a game – second in the Midwest League – is about a 7 percent increase over last season’s 5,587. … The Cougars must attract 22,355 fans in the last three games to reach 400,000 spectators for the season. Last season’s gate of 391,102 snapped a streak of 18 successive summers of at least 400,000 fans. Because of weather postponements, Fifth Third Bank Ballpark will have at least four fewer openings this season than in 2012. … First baseman/designated hitter Rock Shoulders is batting .224 (74 for 331) since April, when he hit .370 and earned honors as the parent Cubs’ organizational player of the month. ... Infielder Giuseppe Papaccio is in the running for the “Moniker Madness” title awarded for the best name in minor league baseball after online fan voting at milb.com. Voting ends today. First baseman/designated hitter Rock Shoulders won the award last season, while former Cougar Dusty Napoleon was the recipient in 2009.

– Kevin Druley, kdruley@shawmedia.com

LEADERS IN THE KANE COUNTY COUGARS’ CLUBHOUSE (THROUGH TUESDAY)

BATTING AVERAGE

Giuseppe Papaccio .266

Gioskar Amaya .256

Marco Hernandez .253

HOME RUNS

Rock Shoulders 18

Willson Contreras 11

Jeimer Candelario 10

RBIS

Rock Shoulders 69

Jeimer Candelario 54

Oliver Zapata 46

STOLEN BASES

Marco Hernandez 18

Oliver Zapata 13

Gioskar Amaya 13

ERA

Sheldon McDonald 2.41

Nathan Dorris 2.95

Stephen Perakslis 2.95

WINS

Nathan Dorris 6

Tayler Scott 6

Justin Amlung 5