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When second baseman Chris Coghlan was called up to the Jupiter Hammerheads last month, the Greensboro Grasshoppers lost the catalyst for their offense.

But six days before Coghlan's departure, outfielder Scott Cousins returned from the temporarily inactive list and has since done his best to replace Coghlan's bat in the lineup.

Before leaving the team to be with his family after the death of a close relative, Cousins was batting .275 with four home runs and 29 RBIs. Since his return, the 2006 third-round draft pick was hitting .305 with five doubles, 13 home runs and 39 RBIs through Thursday.

His production behind leadoff hitter John Raynor -- the spot previously occupied by Coghlan -- has kept the Hoppers' offense rolling and been a key factor in their recent playoff push.

Cousins credits hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, who encouraged him to go home to be with his family, with contributing to his resurgence.

"He said, 'Go home and take as much time as you need,'" Cousins said. "'And when you come back it's going to be like you're rejuvenated. You're going to be excited to play and you're going to have a lot more fun.'

"I don't know, maybe it's a coincidence, but I feel like he's been looking down on me in the second half. It's a really good feeling. I've definitely had more fun this half, and I've been a more consistent player for sure."

Cousins' torrid second half was capped by his three-homer, nine-RBI barrage Wednesday against Hickory.

"He's enjoying the game in the second half," manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "In the first half, you didn't see him playing with confidence out there. This half you can see the difference -- he's just gone off. So it's great to see him having that kind of game."

SNEAK PEEK: As the Grasshoppers' season draws to a close, fans at First Horizon are getting a glimpse of the latest installment of potential future Florida Marlins. Pitchers Marc Lewis and Joshua Roberts, both members of the Marlins' 2007 draft class, were acquired from the Jamestown Jammers this month. Both have pitched for Greensboro.

Lewis, a 20th-round pick out of Creighton, struggled in his first start for the Hoppers but pitched well in Greensboro's 10-2 victory Thursday against Hickory.

After giving up four runs on five hits in five innings in his first start, the left-hander surrendered two runs on six hits in five innings against the Crawdads. He walked one and struck out give.

Roberts, a 35th-round pick out of the University of Portland, has been highly effective in four appearances out of the bullpen. In 61/3 innings of relief work, Roberts is 1-0 and has yet to allow a run. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander has given up three hits and two walks and struck out six.

Most of the rest of the Marlins' draft class has spent the summer with Jamestown of the New York-Penn League or the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

Florida's first three picks -- third baseman Matthew Dominguez (the 12th overall pick), center fielder Michael Stanton and catcher Jameson Smith -- all are recent additions to the GCL Marlins' roster.