MLB Fan Lands Oakland Athletics Contract After Throwing 96 MPH Fastball In Pitch Challenge
Richard Moorhead
|
A baseball fan who showed off his pitching skills in a viral Twitter video is getting a chance to test his stuff in the pros.
Nathan Patterson caught the attention of the baseball world after tossing a 96 mile-an-hour fastball in a video recorded by his brother. He wasn’t pitching in a professional tryout, but instead in a fan’s pitching challenge during a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field.
Guys, we were just chillin at a @rockies baseball game, and my brother decided to step into a speed pitch challenge…he hit 96 mph ???? @MLB Let’s get him signed! pic.twitter.com/g0fKrvUxzt
— Christian Patterson (@cpatterson_7) July 15, 2019
Patterson’s stuff has proved enough to get the attention of professional scouts. The 23-year old amateur was signed to a minor league contract with Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
It’s possible the hard-throwing former amateur’s baseball career could come to resemble the storyline of The Rookie, a true story about another amateur pitcher named Jim Morris who was able to make the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays after impressing pro scouts. Morris ultimately cracked the big leagues at the ripe age of 35, meaning that Patterson will have far more time to hash out a professional baseball career.
Patterson expressed his excitement to prove his talent and work his way up in an Instagram post, celebrating his recent signing at the Athletics’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0os3aFFSy7/?utm_source=ig_embed
Baseball fans with a soft spot for a scrappy underdog will be rooting for the Kansas native to become one of the sport’s most dramatic success stories.
Share: