The fan who landed a contract with the Oakland A’s after throwing a 96-mph fastball struck out the side in his first professional inning.
Nathan Patterson made his debut Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona League against a Chicago Cubs affiliate and needed 18 pitches to fan all three hitters swinging in the first inning.
“I’m not gonna lie, the nerves were flowing until I threw strike one,” the 23-year-old right-hander posted on Instagram. “After that, I took a big deep breath and realized all the hard work over the last year has prepared me for this moment. It could not have gone any better.”
Patterson’s story went viral after lighting up the radar gun on the concourse at a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field in Denver last month. The Athletics signed him to a contract on Aug. 1.
“I still have a long ways to go and I love that aspect of this journey,” Patterson wrote on Instagram. “It takes discipline, focus, and consistency day in and day out to be able to compete in professional baseball. I wake up every day excited to get better and push myself beyond my own expectations.”