Kane County Cougars Profile: Mike Giovenco

Mike Giovenco is a competitive guy when it comes to baseball as was evident when he was breaking records as a pitcher for the North Park baseball team. But is he just as competitive when it comes to a game of cards with his Kane County Cougars’ teammates?

“We get pretty competitive when it comes to our games in the clubhouse,” he said. “Tables have been flipped, chairs have thrown and cards have been tossed. We really get into it like a group of brothers, and we are in a sense because we’ve seen each other through a lot and have gone through the system together.”

But Giovenco makes sure that his competitive spirit is only taken out on opposing hitters once he takes the mound at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

“It’s awesome and amazing (to play there). The fact that I get to stay at home and live at home, and play in front of my family and friends, and even our super-fan Noel (Abraham) is great.  I’m happy that I can show them what I’ve learned and how I’ve progressed over this process of moving up in professional baseball,” Giovenco said.  “I’m not the same pitcher I was in college and I’m not the same person because I’ve grown up and I’m more professional now.”

Giovenco was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. Since then, he’s seen playing time with the Burlington Royals, and just this past summer with Kane County’s minor league squad.

“It’s cool to play for Kane County because I grew up watching Cougars’ games, and hoping one day I could play out here and move up in the system,” he said. “We get great crowds out here of over 10, 15,000 fans that come to see the show and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Giovenco became the all-time single-season leader in strikeouts at North Park as he fanned 101 batters in 2010, bettering his own team record of 87 he set in 2009. But since he has made the transition from college to the pros, things have definitely become more challenging but for the better.

“It’s been quite an experience. The lifestyle’s different in that you’re traveling every day and you’re playing every day. Instead a three-month span, it’s a seven to eight month span,” he said. “In college you spend the whole year with the guys training, where here you’re just playing games every day. It’s more of a close-knit family in college, but here we’re buddies just trying to get to the big leagues. You could be in one town one week and in another town the next. It’s tough because you can’t gain friendships like you can in college.”

In 19 games last season between the Cougars and the Idaho Falls Chukars, Giovenco averaged a 5.30 earned run average with 44 strikeouts and 23 walks. He had a 6.93 ERA in 13 games with the Cougars and fanned 28 batters, while in Idaho he earned a win in 11 innings pitched.

“My main focus is going out there and getting three strikeouts as a setup guy,” Giovenco said. “My velocity has gone up and I’ve improved that so I just need to maintain it. I earned my spot as that setup guy at this level because I went through extended spring training made it through a lot of adversity.”

But playing for the Cougars, where he recorded a five-strikeout performance three different times, has been his best experience yet.

“They have the best fan base, and the stadium is the nicest,” Giovenco said. “Being at home too I have my own fans which makes me feel somewhat like a big leaguer. I (tended) to think I’m somewhat of a fan favorite because I’m from here, but the fans definitely make you feel good to play here.”

Giovenco is regarded as one of the best pitchers, if not the best pitcher the North Park baseball program has ever produced. After he transferred from the University of Illinois at Chicago his freshman year, he made an immediate impact at NP, sending the Vikings to a conference title contending team. Giovenco finished his career as the second-best strikeout pitcher, fanning 247 batters.

“I’m glad I went (here) because had I not, I wouldn’t be where I’m at, and I give a lot of credit to the team that was around me, he said. “I listened to everything the coaches said, the players said and even the opposing players. I picked up little things, and if you’re willing to learn you’re going to get better. Coach (Luke) Johnson instills hard work in all of his players and expects something from everyone.”

Giovenco continues to be a part of the Kansas City Royals minor league system, and is hoping to improve in his role with the team, which hopefully will include a move up in the system.

“It’s hard to tell (how far I’ll go), but if I keep improving I know I have a good chance,” Giovenco said. “Growing up I didn’t see why professional athletes got paid so much money, but now that I’ve been through this routine of home games, and traveling, and staying in shape, it’s definitely a lot of hard work and stress not to mention being the most competitive job in the world because everybody wants to do this. So it’s a dream come true that I’ve been able to do this at this level.”