Many Decatur and Central Illinois players have gone on to play for the Cubs -- Bill Madlock, Kevin Roberson, Roe Skidmore -- but only one is a current Cub.
Reliever Spencer Patton was born in Urbana, raised in Tuscola, then moved to Kinmundy and attended South Central High before enrolling at Parkland Community College and SIU-Edwardsville. He made 16 appearances for the Cubs this season and struck out 22 batters in 21 1/3 innings of work with a 5.48 ERA. Though he wasn't a part of the playoff roster, the 28-year-old contributed to the Cubs' regular season push for the World Series and got a chance to log time behind the scenes with the team's unique cast of characters.
He spends his offseasons in St. Elmo, where he watched Game 7 against the Indians with his family and friends. Patton is still under contract with the Cubs. He spent the first two seasons of his Major League career with the Rangers.
He spent time talking to WAND's Gordon Voit just hours before Game 7 against the Indians. To hear manager Joe Maddon's interesting approach to high-pressure situations, plus what makes Kyle Hendricks such a potent pitcher and what Patton looks forward to telling his grandkids, click the video.
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