Slammers Pick Up Major Leaguer Petrick

The Joliet Slammers picked up former Major Leaguer and Morris product Billy Petrick.

Petrick, 26, pitched for the Cubs in 2007, making eight appearances and striking out six in 9 2/3 innings.

Petrick was picked out of Morris High School with the Cubs taking him in the third round of the 2002 Amateur Draft. He spent four years in the minors before debuting against Colorado and striking out two.

Following his season with the Cubs, Petrick has played for five minor league teams, most recently the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League in 2009, a season that ended for him with surgery.

“He’s 100 percent healthy now, excited to come here, work hard, and hopefully end up with a major league organization before the season ends,” said Slammers Vice President of Baseball Operations Ron Biga said.

“He rose through the Cubs’ organization with our pitching coach Carmen Pignatiello as teammates, and Carmen knows what Billy needs to do to make it back,” Biga said.