He put on a show.<\/p>\n
Now Kentridge product David Patton is in The Show.<\/p>\n
Patton, a right-hander who hadn\u2019t pitched above the Single-A level in his five previous professional seasons, officially became a part of the Chicago Cubs 25-man roster on April 5, the final day of spring training.<\/p>\n
Considered a longshot to make the big club when spring training began, Patton put up numbers the Chicago brass simply couldn\u2019t ignore, posting a 1.26 earned run average and striking out 15 batters in 14 1\/3 innings pitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting the opportunity to play for the Cubs is a dream I\u2019ve had all my life,\u201d said Patton, a middle reliever, just weeks before spring training began.<\/p>\n
Now, the flamethrowing redhead will get his wish.<\/p>\n
And it came hand-in-hand with plenty of white-knuckle situations during the past two weeks as Patton was the final player added to the Chicago roster. Matter of fact, the slot Patton earned in the rotation came down to the final day of spring, when he was battling for the opening with relievers Chad Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija and Angel Guzman.<\/p>\n
Patton, a 24-year-old who graduated from Kentridge High in 2002, enjoyed the finest spring of the bunch. Though because he had never pitched above Single A, there were reservations about how well he\u2019d handle the pressure of facing major leaguers on an everyday basis.<\/p>\n
Chicago manager Lou Piniella let it be known a week before the Cubs\u2019 final spring game at the new Yankee Stadium that Patton\u2019s fate \u2014 along with that of the other three relievers vying for the two available slots \u2014 would be the club\u2019s final decision.<\/p>\n
All four pitched in the final game. And though Patton was shaky, allowing two walks and a hit, he escaped unscathed. In the process, he opened up enough eyes to grab a spot in the bullpen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe young man throws strikes, and obviously he\u2019s not intimidated,\u201d Chicago manager Lou Piniella told MLB.com.<\/p>\n
Leading up to the final game of spring, Patton\u2019s parents \u2014 Debbie and Al \u2014 didn\u2019t sleep a wink the night before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were a nervous wreck,\u201d Debbie said Sunday afternoon. \u201cThere was a lot of praying. It has been a dream of his since he was a little kid. He has worked really hard for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Al agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so proud of my boy, I can\u2019t hardly stand it,\u201d he said. \u201cI was awake every 2 1\/2 hours because of the expectations of the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patton and Guzman filled the two remaining slots in the bullpen while Gaudin was released and Samardzija, one of the organization\u2019s top prospects, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.<\/p>\n
One of the key ingredients as to how Patton managed to secure a spot in the bullpen came down to how the Cubs acquired him in the first place. Patton spent the previous five seasons in the Colorado organization, first as a starting pitcher before being shifted to relief three years ago. In December, however, Colorado left Patton exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. Any player who has been with an organization for five years or more and has never been slotted on the parent club\u2019s 25-man roster automatically becomes eligible for the draft.<\/p>\n
In December, Patton was chosen with the seventh overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 Draft. Just hours later, he was dealt to the Cubs for cash.<\/p>\n
As part of the governing rules of the Rule 5 Draft, any player who is chosen must stick on the club\u2019s 25-man roster or be offered back to his original organization, in Patton\u2019s case the Rockies.<\/p>\n
Essentially, the Cubs either had to keep Patton or risk losing him to Colorado, where he likely would have been sent back to the minors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what you devote all your time to and what I\u2019ve wanted since I was a little kid,\u201d Patton said. \u201cThis is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being picked up by Piniella and the Cubs was just a bonus, Patton admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up a die-hard Mariners fan in Seattle and Lou was the manager. Now he\u2019s the manager in Chicago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Patton was originally selected in the 12th round by Colorado in the June 2004 draft out of Green River Community College.<\/p>\n
Green River coach Matt Acker was not surprised with how well Patton handled himself during Spring Training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the potential,\u201d Acker said. \u201cTalk about a kid who deserves it. He wanted a break and he got a break. He\u2019s not going to get rattled. He enjoys it. He has so much left in the tank because he really didn\u2019t pitch a lot growing up. He\u2019s learned so much. There really isn\u2019t anything they can throw at him that he hasn\u2019t already been through because, mentally, he\u2019s seen it all before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kentridge coach John Flanigan was equally excited for Patton.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow cool is that for him, a kid who persevered,\u201d Flanigan said. \u201cRight place, right time. A lot of guys get the opportunity and don\u2019t cash in. He had an opportunity of a lifetime and cashed in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patton is the third player in Green River history to make it to the major leagues. Pitchers Doug Sisk, who pitched for three different organizations between 1982-1991, and David Riske, currently with Milwaukee, are the other two. Patton also is the first player in Kentridge High history to advance to the majors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what I\u2019ve always wanted,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is what I love to do, no matter where I\u2019m at.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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