| John Patterson | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Patterson with theWashington Nationals in 2006 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1978-01-30)January 30, 1978 (age 47) Orange, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| July 20, 2002, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| May 5, 2007, for the Washington Nationals | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 18–25 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.32 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 415 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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John Hollis Patterson (born January 30, 1978) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played for theArizona Diamondbacks andMontreal Expos/Washington Nationals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2007.
AUSA Today prep All-American in his senior year at West Orange-Stark (Texas) High School, Patterson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the first round (5th overall pick) of the1996 MLB draft. Montreal lost the draft rights to Patterson on a legal technicality: they sent him a contract offer that was not printed on official team letterhead, and he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $6.075 million. After a solid2002 rookie season where he had a 3.22earned run average (ERA), he had a disappointing2003 season with the Diamondbacks. Patterson was traded back to the Expos prior to the2004 season in exchange forRandy Choate, aleft-handedrelief pitcher.
Always filled with immense potential – he featured afastball in the mid-90s (miles per hour) along with a bigcurveball and a sharpslider – Patterson started to realize it while pitching for Montreal in 2004, when he had a 3.57 ERA in April. He got hurt soon after, though, and never regained his form for the rest of the year.
Patterson had a breakout season in2005, posting a 9–7 record for Washington while setting career bests in ERA (3.13),innings pitched (198.3), andstrikeouts (185) in 31 starts. His 15no decisions were the most among MLB starting pitchers in 2005.[1] On August 4, 2005, he pitched his first careercomplete gameshutout against theLos Angeles Dodgers, with Washington winning 7–0. In 2009,Washington Post baseball writer Dave Sheinin named Patterson's performance the greatest pitching performance in Nationals history at that time.[2]
Early in2006, Patterson suffered an injury to his right forearm which had to be surgically repaired on July 20, and he did not return for the 2006 campaign.[3][4]
In2007, Patterson started the year dismally, going 1–5 in seven starts with an ERA of 7.47. His struggles with right forearm and nerve problems that had begun in 2006 continued.[5] He went back on thedisabled list on May 7, 2007, with elbow inflammation. He did not pitch the rest of the season, eventually opting for surgery in September 2007. On March 20,2008, the Nationals released him after four years with the franchise.
On March 24, 2008, Patterson signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers. He was released on May 24, 2008. Unable to overcome the pain in his right forearm, he announced his retirement from baseball on January 7,2009.[6]
Patterson lives in Prosper, TX. On November 10, 2007, he married 2005Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau, who was fourth runner-up in the 2006Miss America pageant. In 2010 Mrs. Patterson won the Mrs. Texas title associated with the Mrs. America competition.
· Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | Washington NationalsOpening Day starting pitcher 2007 | Succeeded by |
