Billo ‘loving every minute’ of playing close to home
Yesterday at 3:30 p.m.
Former Sandburg and Orland Magic star Greg Billo is happy to be playing close to home this season with the Kane County Cougars. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)
Former Sandburg baseball star Greg Billo was pretty far away from home last year when he pitched for Kansas City Royals affiliate Idaho Falls in the rookie Pioneer League.
Then the rumors started floating. The Royals were mulling moving their low Class-A team. And Billo had a hunch he would be pitching at that level in 2011.
“We heard last year they were changing,” Billo said. “I heard it was between Savannah (Georgia) and Kane County. Obviously I was pulling for Kane County.”
He got what he wished for. The Royals and Kane County Cougars came to an agreement and Billo was assigned to the Cougars roster this season.
Billo said he’s excited because friends and family, including his grandmother, can come watch him pitch live.
“When I was younger, I came to games here,” Billo said. “When I was in high school, I played here. I’ve been around this stadium. It’s nice to come full circle from watching this team to playing with this team.”
Billo is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed pitcher who was taken in the 28th round of the 2008 draft. In three seasons, he’s posted a 6-11 record with a 3.97 ERA in 37 appearances including 25 starts. He walked 47 batters and struck out 143 in 147 innings of work.
He was 12-1 his senior season at Sandburg with a 1.19 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 70 1-3 innings. The former Orland Magic travel team standout will open the season alternating as a starter and long reliever and will try to get 75 pitches in per game.
While he appreciates the opportunity to play close to home for now, he’s hoping to get a little further away after this.
“It’s just another step,” Billo said of Class A ball. “This isn’t the final goal. But I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. I’m loving every minute of it.”
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