As he waited with friends through the third day of the 2012 draft, Petrick passed the time surfing the Internet and trying to avoid a creeping dread. When the name of the 1,238th selection was announced, it was official. Not one of the names was his. Less than 18 months later, Petrick learned he was the Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year. Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of Northwestern Ohio in 2012, he zoomed through three levels in 2013 with mature command of three pitches and enough velocity to excel. The angular righty with an easy, repeatable delivery touched 91 mph in college. A move to relief untapped some additional speed--up to 94 mph--and he maintained it with a move back to the rotation. Petrick's sinking fastball sets up his slider and an above-average changeup. His command, based on reliable mechanics, is keen. He had more strikeouts (122) in 113 innings in 2013 than hits and walks combined (116). Petrick might receive an invitation to major league camp and exposure to the coaches there before returning to his audition for the Triple-A Memphis rotation.
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