Drafted in the 7th round (229th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2005 (signed for $90,000).
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LHP Garrett Patterson is finally healthy after battling elbow problems at Kansas State, Grayson County Community College and Oklahoma. He has come back from two surgeries to touch 95 mph this spring. Patterson, who usually pitches at 89-92 mph, also has added depth to his curveball and uses a cutter. He has held opponents to a .192 average and zero homers this spring. A club willing to overlook Patterson's medical history and age (23) could take him around the 10th round. A rare fifth-year junior, he can be a draft-and-follow.
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Staten Island dominated the New York-Penn League, going 52-24 and winning the playoffs, thanks to a pitching staff that posted a 2.85 ERA to lead the league by a substantial margin. Patterson had an ERA nearly a full run higher than the team mark, but his power lefthanded arm makes him Staten Island's top pitching prospect. He had a well-traveled college career due in part to elbow problems. He started his career at Kansas State before transferring first to Grayson County (Texas) Community College and then Oklahoma, where he was a part-time starter and reliever. Patterson has big stuff, with enough power to be effective despite fringy control. His fastball sits at 93-94, and he touched 96 this summer out of the bullpen. His changeup gives him a second plus pitch, though it's a notch below his electric heater. He also has shown the ability to spin a breaking ball, a decent though inconsistent curve. While he has an easy and fairly smooth delivery, he has command and control issues. Patterson's poor conditioning has something to do with it, and he also tends to lose his release point at times. If he comes to spring training in better shape, he'll be given a chance to be a starter in Class A because of his three-pitch mix. Otherwise, he could move quickly as a power lefty reliever in the Alan Embree mold.
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