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NEW YORK – Chad Patrick was set to embark on an epic 25-hour drive from Phoenix back home to Indiana for a quick pit stop on Saturday when he received a text.
Sit tight, he was told. There might be some news.
Having already been optioned to Class AAA Nashville on March 9, the right-hander had just pitched for the final time in Arizona and was expecting to open for the second straight season with the Sounds.
But injuries had hammered the Milwaukee Brewers' pitching depth in the days since, and Patrick had shown well enough in four Cactus League appearances that all of a sudden he was in line to instead head north with the team for its season-opening series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
"Next day, waiting in the waiting room, trying to feel out if it was going to happen or not, I got a text from Tony (Migliaccio, longtime director of clubhouse operations) that said, 'Can you come find me so you can give me your car details? I'm shipping it.' And I was like, 'Oh crap, this is getting real,'" Patrick said. "Gave him my information, went out for stretch and got picked up in one of those long golf carts.
"It was kind of a cool moment. Everybody was clapping for me, and I kind of knew at that point."
Manager and resident comedian Pat Murphy recounted the interaction Wednesday morning prior to his team's workout in The Bronx.
"We went and got him," Murphy said. "Then we sat him down and told him, 'Do you think we'd go get you on a cart for any other reason?
"Trade you, release you or make the roster – you pick.'"
Patrick, who turns 27 on Aug. 14, pitched well enough at Nashville last season to merit a callup after becoming the first pitcher since 1976 to win the Class AAA triple crown with a 14-1 record, 2.90 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 26 appearances (24 starts).
It never came.
But Milwaukee's decision to place him on its 40-man roster in November along with fellow right-hander Logan Henderson signaled the organization did indeed have plans for him.
And now, after posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 8 ⅓ innings over four appearances this spring, Patrick finds himself in a fluid role with the Brewers in which he could be asked to provide length out of the bullpen, potentially start a game or two, or both.
"This is awesome, a great experience and something I'm taking in every day," said Patrick, who came from the A's in exchange for infielder Abraham Toro in November 2023. "It's a little different travel-wise, which is cool. Then, just getting here and walking out.
"When you think Yankees, you think old school."
All that's known right now with regard to Milwaukee's starting-pitching plan is Freddy Peralta takes the mound Thursday, Nestor Cortes on Saturday and Aaron Civale on Sunday. Tobias Myers (oblique), Aaron Ashby (oblique) and DL Hall (lat) are all sidelined by injury, and Brandon Woodruff is still probably a month away from being able to finally make his return to a major-league mound.
José Quintana, meanwhile, still isn't stretched out enough to take his first turn with the Brewers, so they'll examine their options with him (he has two minor-league options remaining) with an eye on slotting him back in as soon as they're able.
Tyler Alexander, Elvin Rodríguez and Rule 5 pick Connor Thomas also provide Murphy with flexibility.
"This kid pitched his way onto the team," said Murphy of Patrick. "Our top 13 pitchers are not going to be here in New York. So, we're having to get support from other people, and he's deserving. He pitched well in spring training. He's a length option."
Patrick said his father, Dan and mother, Jackie will be in attendance this weekend along with a few assorted other family members and friends.
It'll be quite the change from Crown Point, Indiana, where Patrick grew up, only a 20-minute or so jaunt straight south of Gary on I-65.
"I just think back to being in high school, or a little kid," said Patrick, who requested and received jersey No. 39, last worn by Corbin Burnes in 2023. Patrick is a great admirer of the way Burnes pitches and, like the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, relies heavily on a cutter.
"I graduated with 81 people, went to a small high school, and you just think back to how your journey started, who got you here and who helped you along the way – stuff like that.
"Just, very fulfilling."
The Brewers don't have to set their roster until late Thursday morning in advance of the opener.
But a couple of other players who bucked the odds to make the final 26-man alignment appear to be first baseman Jake Bauers, who hit .263 with a .938 OPS, three home runs and nine runs batted in as a non-roster player, and outfielder-second baseman Isaac Collins, who displayed some surprising pop and an ability to hit left-handers as a left-handed hitter in camp.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick makes opening-day roster
Continue reading...
Sit tight, he was told. There might be some news.
Having already been optioned to Class AAA Nashville on March 9, the right-hander had just pitched for the final time in Arizona and was expecting to open for the second straight season with the Sounds.
But injuries had hammered the Milwaukee Brewers' pitching depth in the days since, and Patrick had shown well enough in four Cactus League appearances that all of a sudden he was in line to instead head north with the team for its season-opening series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
"Next day, waiting in the waiting room, trying to feel out if it was going to happen or not, I got a text from Tony (Migliaccio, longtime director of clubhouse operations) that said, 'Can you come find me so you can give me your car details? I'm shipping it.' And I was like, 'Oh crap, this is getting real,'" Patrick said. "Gave him my information, went out for stretch and got picked up in one of those long golf carts.
"It was kind of a cool moment. Everybody was clapping for me, and I kind of knew at that point."
Manager and resident comedian Pat Murphy recounted the interaction Wednesday morning prior to his team's workout in The Bronx.
"We went and got him," Murphy said. "Then we sat him down and told him, 'Do you think we'd go get you on a cart for any other reason?
"Trade you, release you or make the roster – you pick.'"
Patrick, who turns 27 on Aug. 14, pitched well enough at Nashville last season to merit a callup after becoming the first pitcher since 1976 to win the Class AAA triple crown with a 14-1 record, 2.90 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 26 appearances (24 starts).
It never came.
But Milwaukee's decision to place him on its 40-man roster in November along with fellow right-hander Logan Henderson signaled the organization did indeed have plans for him.
And now, after posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 8 ⅓ innings over four appearances this spring, Patrick finds himself in a fluid role with the Brewers in which he could be asked to provide length out of the bullpen, potentially start a game or two, or both.
"This is awesome, a great experience and something I'm taking in every day," said Patrick, who came from the A's in exchange for infielder Abraham Toro in November 2023. "It's a little different travel-wise, which is cool. Then, just getting here and walking out.
"When you think Yankees, you think old school."
All that's known right now with regard to Milwaukee's starting-pitching plan is Freddy Peralta takes the mound Thursday, Nestor Cortes on Saturday and Aaron Civale on Sunday. Tobias Myers (oblique), Aaron Ashby (oblique) and DL Hall (lat) are all sidelined by injury, and Brandon Woodruff is still probably a month away from being able to finally make his return to a major-league mound.
José Quintana, meanwhile, still isn't stretched out enough to take his first turn with the Brewers, so they'll examine their options with him (he has two minor-league options remaining) with an eye on slotting him back in as soon as they're able.
Tyler Alexander, Elvin Rodríguez and Rule 5 pick Connor Thomas also provide Murphy with flexibility.
"This kid pitched his way onto the team," said Murphy of Patrick. "Our top 13 pitchers are not going to be here in New York. So, we're having to get support from other people, and he's deserving. He pitched well in spring training. He's a length option."
Patrick said his father, Dan and mother, Jackie will be in attendance this weekend along with a few assorted other family members and friends.
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It'll be quite the change from Crown Point, Indiana, where Patrick grew up, only a 20-minute or so jaunt straight south of Gary on I-65.
"I just think back to being in high school, or a little kid," said Patrick, who requested and received jersey No. 39, last worn by Corbin Burnes in 2023. Patrick is a great admirer of the way Burnes pitches and, like the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, relies heavily on a cutter.
"I graduated with 81 people, went to a small high school, and you just think back to how your journey started, who got you here and who helped you along the way – stuff like that.
"Just, very fulfilling."
The Brewers don't have to set their roster until late Thursday morning in advance of the opener.
But a couple of other players who bucked the odds to make the final 26-man alignment appear to be first baseman Jake Bauers, who hit .263 with a .938 OPS, three home runs and nine runs batted in as a non-roster player, and outfielder-second baseman Isaac Collins, who displayed some surprising pop and an ability to hit left-handers as a left-handed hitter in camp.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick makes opening-day roster
Continue reading...
