Drafted in the 4th round (109th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2013 (signed for $425,000).
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At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Patterson is built like a power-hitting first baseman. He offers intrigue as a lefty reliever, throwing 90-93 mph with a solid slider from a maximum-effort delivery. But he has been a tremendous college hitter and was Sun Belt Conference player of the year, batting .360/.493/.536 entering regional play. Patterson has a flat swing plane and hit just four homers this year after eight in 2012, but he does make consistent hard contact, ranking fourth in the country with 25 doubles. He has good bat speed and hits good pitching; he just doesn't have profile power for first base. He's a fringy runner but clearly has the arm strength to give the outfield corners a go as well.
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After making his major league debut in 2016, Patterson was sent back to Triple-A in 2017 and struggled early. He hit .219 the first two months of the season but ultimately finished with a flourish, hitting .317 the final three months and posting career highs with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs. A two-way player at South Alabama, Patterson had a big leg kick at the plate when he signed, but Rockies instructor Marv Foley worked with him to shorten up the stride, allowing him to stay on the ball longer and keep his head down. A middle of the field hitter, Patterson is still adjusting in order to pull the ball and improve his home run totals, but shows flashes of average to above power. Patterson originally played the corner outfield positions in pro ball and has plenty of arm for right field. However, he began working at first base the last two seasons at Albuquerque and adapted well. Patterson didn't receive a September callup in 2017, because the Rockies were stocked at first base and outfield, but with a host of veterans departing, he has a chance to claim a role in 2018.
A two-way player at South Alabama, Patterson entered pro ball as a corner outfielder. The Rockies, however, liked what they saw of him as a first baseman when they gave him an extended audition in the second half of 2016 at Triple-A Albuquerque. Patterson moves around the bag well and has the arm to make the 3-6-3 double play. The signing of free agent Ian Desmond after the 2016 season most likely relegates Patterson to Triple-A in 2017, but given Desmond's versatility, he could force the issue with a big first half. He has undergone a complete overhaul of his swing under the guidance of Rockies instructor Marv Foley. Patterson came out of college with a big leg kick and various moving parts, but Foley worked to shorten him up, which allowed him to stay on the ball longer and keep his head still. Patterson drives the ball well to the central part of the field, has a flat swing and has the size and strength to make adjustments to hit more home runs. He's in line to earn a reserve spot if the Rockies have room for an extra lefthanded bat who can play corner outfield and first base.
Patterson was a two-way player at South Alabama who touched 93 mph off the mound and hit for power. He has continued to provide versatility in the Rockies system, where he has played all three outfield positions as well as first base. He started at high Class A Modesto in 2015 as a 23-year-old but forced a July promotion to Double-A New Britain with a .945 OPS and 10 home runs in 303 at-bats. He had little difficulty adjusting to the Eastern League, and though he hit just .157 in the Arizona Fall League, those struggles likely stemmed from fatigue. After streamlining some moving parts in his swing, Patterson took a refined approach into 2015 and had success with it, leading the minors with 45 doubles. He has plus raw power and some leverage in his swing, though it can get a little long at times. Some scouts view the lefthanded batter as a platoon player, though he made contact and hit for power at similar rates versus righties and lefties in 2015. Athletic with a plus arm, Patterson fits best in an outfield corner and should also continue to see work at first base. He will play at Triple-A Albuquerque at some point in 2016.
Patterson was a two-way player at South Alabama, where he also threw 90-93 mph as a lefthanded reliever. After a solid debut in 2013, he got off to a slow start in 2014 at low Class A Asheville, hitting .220 in April and .222 in May before making an adjustment that got him on track. He toned down excessive pre-pitch movement in his hands and wrists, while simplifying a leg kick that improved his timing, especially on offspeed pitches. Patterson has plus raw power, which should enable him to approach 20 homers in the big leagues. His swing can get a little long, but when his approach is right, he keeps his hands inside the ball and incorporates his back side to make consistent hard contact. Patterson is an average to tick above-average runner. He has a well above-average, accurate arm to go with above-average first-step quickness and range in right field. He should play at high Class A Modesto in 2015, and the Rockies love his makeup and deceptive athleticism.
Draft Prospects
At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Patterson is built like a power-hitting first baseman. He offers intrigue as a lefty reliever, throwing 90-93 mph with a solid slider from a maximum-effort delivery. But he has been a tremendous college hitter and was Sun Belt Conference player of the year, batting .360/.493/.536 entering regional play. Patterson has a flat swing plane and hit just four homers this year after eight in 2012, but he does make consistent hard contact, ranking fourth in the country with 25 doubles. He has good bat speed and hits good pitching; he just doesn't have profile power for first base. He's a fringy runner but clearly has the arm strength to give the outfield corners a go as well.
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