Patrick Connaughton Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Patrick Bergin Connaughton
Born 01/06/1993 in Arlington, MA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Notre Dame
Drafted in the 4th round (121st overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 (signed for $428,100).

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Connaughton hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jeff Samardzija, another two-sport Notre Dame athlete who cashed in as a baseball player. Connaughton has been a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish basketball team and had his best season as a junior, but the 6-foot-5, 214-pounder lacks the explosiveness or shooting range to be an NBA prospect and has a brighter future on the diamond. He has 30 career college starts and 155 innings, and he pitched in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he remains raw, getting by mostly on athleticism and arm strength. He pitches off an above-average fastball that has future plus potential. He'll reach 94 mph regularly but generally sits in the 88-92 mph range, and the pitch has good life. He lacks fastball command and confidence in his secondary stuff, though at times his curve shows promise. He shows grit and competes well on the mound, grinding through an eight-inning start (and getting the win) against Clemson with eight walks and no strikeouts early in May. Connaughton could sign a deal that allows him to return to Notre Dame for one more basketball season before becoming a full-time pro pitcher in 2015.

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Connaughton has drawn comparisons with fellow Notre Dame two-sport athlete Jeff Samardzija, both for his amateur background and live arm. Instead of football, though, Connaughton starred in basketball, and he will spend his senior year on the court for the Irish before focusing on baseball in summer 2015. The Orioles signed him for $428,100 out of the fourth round, and one member of the front office believes Connaughton could become "a different animal" once he drops baseketball. He pitched effectivley at short-season Aberdeen in a 15-inning look before he headed back to campus for a summer tour of Italy with the basketball team. Connaughton's fastball ranged from 91-96 mph with late movement, while his slider and changeup still need a lot of development. For now, the Orioles will keep him in the rotation. Connaughton is a high-energy guy with strong makeup, and his tremendous athleticism will be a plus on the mound. Baltimore expects him to begin 2015 in the low Class A Delmarva rotation.

Connaughton hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jeff Samardzija, another two-sport Notre Dame athlete who cashed in as a baseball player. Connaughton has been a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish basketball team and had his best season as a junior, but the 6-foot-5, 214-pounder lacks the explosiveness or shooting range to be an NBA prospect and has a brighter future on the diamond. He has 30 career college starts and 155 innings, and he pitched in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he remains raw, getting by mostly on athleticism and arm strength. He pitches off an above-average fastball that has future plus potential. He'll reach 94 mph regularly but generally sits in the 88-92 mph range, and the pitch has good life. He lacks fastball command and confidence in his secondary stuff, though at times his curve shows promise. He shows grit and competes well on the mound, grinding through an eight-inning start (and getting the win) against Clemson with eight walks and no strikeouts early in May. Connaughton could sign a deal that allows him to return to Notre Dame for one more basketball season before becoming a full-time pro pitcher in 2015.