No matter how much money is involved at the end of the day, baseball is still just a game. Have you ever been to a baseball game and participated in the radar gun game, where you attempt to guess the speed of your pitch? Well, imagine throwing 96 mph! That’s what 23-year-old Nathan Patterson did in 2018 at a Nashville Sounds game. After realizing he might still have what it takes, Patterson signed with a sports agent. He started working on his craft more and more. But after being hit by a car in 2018 and injuring his non-throwing wrist, he was faced with another setback.
Patterson played junior varsity baseball at Overland Park in Overland Park Kansas. He suffered a fracture in the elbow of his throwing arm during his junior year and never recovered sufficiently from the injury to resume his high school career. Patterson attended a community college but left to start his own landscaping business. He did not play baseball in college.
In 2019, Patterson went to a Colorado Rockies game, and once again attempted the radar gun game. He was able to reach 96 mph. But this time his friend took a video of him. The video went viral on social media, and thanks to Rob Friedman, aka the pitching ninja, and just a few days later he was approached by the Oakland Athletics. They offered him an entry-level minor league contract. Patterson officially signed the deal on July 31, 2019.
On August 15th, Nathan stepped on the mound for his first professional appearance with the Athletic Golds (Oakland affiliate in the Arizona League). He started the game for the Golds. But only pitched one inning. Patterson struck out the side.
What should be learned from the story of Nathan Patterson is every time you attend a baseball game, play the radar gun game and maybe you could get signed to a professional team!
