BROOKLYN, N.Y. — After three seasons in orange and blue, former Fighting Illini shortstop Brandon Wikoff is living out his boyhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player. Taken with the 161st pick by the Houston Astros in the 2009 first year player draft, the Peoria, Ill., native finds himself calling Troy, N.Y., home as he dons a Tri-City ValleyCats uniform while playing in the New York-Penn League.

“My dad and summer league coach were able to be with me (on draft day),” said Wikoff. “We were watching it on the internet and then got the call from the scout so it was pretty cool, and it was a very exciting time.”

The baseball diamond is still set up so that 60 feet, six inches separate the pitcher’s mound and home plate and 90 feet lie between each base, but the conditions under which the game are played have changed for Wikoff.

His team arrives at around 1 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game and holds a full practice with weight lifting and conditioning before each game. Collared shirts and nice clothing are expected as part of the wardrobe, the ballparks are large and the team addresses the manager as either skipper or by their last name. The biggest change that Wikoff has seen is that punishment is not in the form of running, but that the players must pay for their mistakes.

“It’s your job now,” said Wikoff. “It’s different then when you’re at school, and you have (classes to go to and homework to tend to). Now you’re just playing baseball, it’s more of a business atmosphere, but you know what you’re here for, and you have to keep working.”

Though the new trend in the lower levels of the minor leagues is to pair players up with host families, Wikoff explained that the Astros set up apartments for pairs of teammates and that they are now responsible for the rent. The ValleyCats shortstop has enjoyed living on the east coast, but claims it is not anything like Champaign.

“It’s a different culture (in New York),” said Wikoff. “How they talk, how they act, everything about them. They just have that swagger of a New York person. It’s definitely different. It is nothing like small-town Champaign, but I am getting used to it, and I like it so far.”

Wikoff was able to use his three years on campus to prepare him for what lied ahead. Illini head coach Dan Hartleb preached the importance of making every opportunity on the diamond count.

“(Hartleb) teaches work ethic and coming to the park ready to play,” said Wikoff. “That is what they stress at this level everyday. There are no days off. (Hartleb) stressed that every day, you better come to the park ready to play or else you don’t get any better that day, and you take steps backwards.”

Wikoff surely took Hartleb’s advice and, because of it, he finds himself with the opportunity of a lifetime. Even though Wikoff will be working hard wherever he is assigned, that won’t get in the way of the shortstop being able to follow his former team as it looks to capture a Big Ten title.

“We have a great team coming back,” said Wikoff. “I’m looking forward to big things out of them, and I wish them the best of luck — keep working hard and get after it.”