Milwaukee Brewers sign Nathan Patterson to minor league contract

One of the unique things abouts baseball is that development never stops, and you can truly find talent just about anywhere. That includes at the speed pitch game you might see at your local park, which is where Nathan Patterson first gained notoriety in 2019. The right-hander, who only played competitive baseball through high school, was filmed at a Rockies game at Coors Field in 2019 throwing 96 MPH, which eventually led to him landing a contract with the Oakland Athletics.

Patterson appeared in three games for Oakland’s rookie Arizona League affiliate, allowing three runs in 5.2 innings but with a stellar 8:1 K/BB ratio. Unfortunately he was released in 2020 during the pandemic season where no minor league baseball was played, but he has landed on his feet by signing a minor league contract with the Milwakee Brewers.

Besides his heater, Patterson also throws a changeup, slider, and curveball. Given his age (he’ll be 25 this season) and lack of professional experience and pitching polish, Patterson will no doubt be a project. But the Brewers have certainly succeeded in finding pitching talent in unconventional places under the current regime, so perhaps with some time at the vaunted “pitching lab” and a little bit of in-game experience, the organization could shine up another diamond in the rough.