The Milwaukee Brewers visit the Kansas City Royals this week and today is game one of the interleague series between the two Central teams. However, today is definitely most meaningful of the games in the series due to the arrival of longtime Royals starter Zack Greinke for the first time since he was traded to the Brewers.
"I don't think I've been back since then," Greinke said. "It will be nice to see the city, and the fans were always really good to me. I don't know how they'll be when I go back, but while I was there, they were great to me. I could never say anything bad about them -- ever."
The Royals drafted Greinke in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft and he pitched seven seasons in Kansas City before being traded for four prospects including Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar. He went 60-67 in his time in KC, including a Cy Young Award win in 2009 when he went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA.
As for his return, the Brewers ace doesn't believe there will be any ill will or weird feelings on his part.
"I've thought about it," Greinke said. "I don't think it will be much different. The biggest difference will be being in the visitors' dugout, warming up in the visitors' bullpen. I've never thrown in the visitors' bullpen there. That will be strange."
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