Thursday, May 01, 2014

Welcome to the Blue, Red Patterson!


The Dodgers add a 26th man to the roster.  Using the rare "26-Man Roster Rule" the Dodger add right-handed starting pitcher Red Patterson due to the unexpected doubleheader today.  He will start the 2nd game this evening against the Twins, and it'll be his Major League debut.  BTW, Dan Haren will start the 1st game today.  Per a Dodgers press release:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Red Patterson from Triple-A Albuquerque and designated Albuquerque outfielder Nick Buss for assignment. Patterson, who will wear No. 51, was added to the roster as the 26th man for today's doubleheader at Minnesota and will make his Major League debut in the second game.

Patterson has gone 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts this season with the Isotopes, last pitching on April 24 at Fresno and allowing five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings in a loss. The 26-year-old has gone 33-12 with a 3.40 ERA in 132 games (58 starts) in five minor league seasons after he was selected in the 29th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Patterson has 432 strikeouts, while walking only 148, in 440.0 career minor league innings.

The Texas native made his first appearance in Major League camp this year as a non-roster invitee and allowed only one run in 11.2 innings (0.77 ERA), going 0-1 and limiting opponents to a .146 batting average (6-for-41).

I always love watching new Dodger prospects on the mound for the first time.  He has quietly rose up the Dodgers ladder, and is considered a sleeper pick among prospect hounds.  Patterson throws a fastball in the low-90's and a "spike" curveball - a combination slider/curve.  Per an interview with Hugh Bernreuter at mlive.com:
“I’ve never been able to throw a real curve, so I came up with the spike, basically digging my fingernail into the ball,” Patterson said. “It doesn’t move 12-to-6, but more 3-to-9, but even then it sometimes moves different ways.
The above quote is from 2011, so I am unsure if this pitch is still in his repertoire.  

In celebration of Patterson officially becoming a Dodger and playing in his first Major League game later today, I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photo grabbed from Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014 taken during his appearance in an exhibition game against the Australian National team in Australia and the 1962 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are Red Patterson's career stats, via Baseball Reference:


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