Press Releases

FORMER CHICAGO CUB HURLER SIGNS WITH THUNDERBOLTS

The Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team, 2007 and 2008 Frontier League Champions, has announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Billy Petrick to a contract for the 2009 season. Petrick will be entering his eighth season of professional baseball this summer, highlighted by pitching in eight games for the Chicago Cubs in 2007. Petrick is familiar with the ThunderBolts through his connection with bench coach Mike Kashirsky, who was the field manager for the Upper Deck Cougars team on which Petrick pitched to the 2002 18 & under National Championship.
 
Billy Petrick made his Major League Baseball debut on June 27, 2007 at Wrigley Field against the Colorado Rockies, tossing two innings in the Cubs’ 6-4 victory. Petrick did not allow any runs in five of his eight big league appearances for the Cubs, including four consecutive games from June 29 through July 17. Along with the Rockies, Petrick faced the Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and St. Louis Cardinals. He posted a 7.45 ERA with six strikeouts and a .229 batting average against for the Cubs.
 
The Cubs drafted Petrick in the third round in 2002 out of Morris High School. He was a starting pitcher for his first five seasons in their system, highlighted by a 13-7 record and 3.50 ERA for the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League in 2004. Petrick was promoted to Chicago after recording a 2.37 ERA with two saves and 33 strikeouts in 30.1 innings for the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League in 2007. He spent 2008 with the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League, where he had a 1-2 record and 4.09 ERA in eight games. In his minor league career, Petrick has a 27-24 record and 3.71 ERA over 106 games (63 starts) with 331 strikeouts in 397.2 innings.

Petrick will become the fourth player with Major League Baseball playing experience to appear in a Frontier League game this season, with the three previous all being right-handed pitchers as well. Scott Sobkowiak appeared in one game for the Atlanta Braves in 2001 and spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the Rockford RiverHawks, where he combined for a 14-14 record and 4.01 ERA over 30 starts. Corey Thurman spent the entire 2002 season and part of 2003 with the Toronto Blue Jays, combining to go 3-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 49 big league games then made six starts with a 2-3 record and 4.38 ERA for the Florence Freedom in 2005. Ben Diggins made five starts for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003 with an 0-4 record and 8.63 ERA before appearing in 17 games as a first baseman for the ThunderBolts in 2006, hitting .209 with one home run and eight RBI. In addition, former Cleveland Indian and the 1980 American League Rookie of the Year Joe Charboneau had a promotional at bat during game with the Canton Crocodiles in 2000 while he was a member of their coaching staff.
 
“I’ve known Billy for several years and had the privilege of managing him in summer ball before he signed with the Cubs in 2002,” commented Kashirsky. “Billy is a hard worker and will be a great influence on the rest of the staff as he works to climb back to the Majors.”
 
“I’m eager to be joining the ThunderBolts and reuniting with Mike Kashirsky,” commented Petrick. “I am excited about the upcoming season and to begin my journey back to the Major Leagues.”
 
The Windy City ThunderBolts open the 2009 season on Thursday, May 21 at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. For more information, please visit us online at www.wcthunderbolts.com or contact the ThunderBolts at 708-489-BALL or [email protected]

null


Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

February 2024
January 2024
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
September 2020
June 2020
April 2020
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
November 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006