Crosby still waiting to sign with Detroit

Casey Crosby has always considered himself a patient person, but these days, his patience has been tested greatly.

Crosby, a 2007 Kaneland graduate and the captain of the all-area baseball team for the Tri-Cities, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 181st pick June 7.

Since then, he's been waiting for the Tigers to tell him what to do and where to go next after hoping he'd sign with them for somewhere in the neighborhood of $700,000.

"I am a patient person ... but it's tough to be when it deals with chasing my dream," Crosby said. "I feel I'm so close to it.

"Everyone keeps telling me to hang in there, and there is nothing to worry about."

In the meantime, Crosby has been playing baseball with his travel team, the Illinois Sparks, and "just hanging out."

Crosby said he's been staying in good contact with his adviser, the Tigers' scout director and area scout.

What Crosby thinks may happen is he won't sign until August. He wouldn't actually play with any of the Tigers' minor league teams, but instead head to the instructional league for 5 weeks. He'd come home, take some classes at Waubonsee Community College and/or get a job, then head to spring training in February.

Before the season is over, he'd also like to take a trip to see a game for fun in Detroit at Comerica Park.

The 6-foot-4 Crosby finished his senior season at Kaneland as one of the top pitchers in the state. He pitched 5 shutouts and went 6-2 with an ERA of 0.88 with only 8 unearned runs in 63ˆ¿ innings pitched.

He faced 247 batters, striking out 92 and allowing 26 hits. He was also all-area in football as the Knights' top wide receiver.