Patterson knows all about hitting — and getting hit
You might say Jordan Patterson has an adversarial relationship with baseballs.
He bruises them and vice versa.
The Albuquerque Isotopes’ first baseman has punished more than a few balls in three Triple-A seasons. In fact, he’s closing in on Jason Wood’s franchise mark for career home runs. Wood hit 60 in five seasons with the ’Topes. Patterson has 57 and counting, including a solo shot in Wednesday night’s 4-3 loss to Sacramento at Isotopes Park.
But baseballs — with the help of opposing pitchers — have taken a measure of revenge. Patterson has been hit by pitches 44 times in an Isotopes uniform. He’s the career leader by an uncomfortably large margin.
“It’s been part of me since high school,” Patterson said of his propensity for plunkings. “I don’t know why. I was always taught not to move my feet in the (batter’s) box, so when pitchers come in on me, I get hit. It just happens.”
Like it or not, Patterson is on a blistering hit-by-pitch pace in 2018. He’s been nailed a PCLleading 16 times and appears to have a great shot at overtaking Mike Kinkade’s club record of 22 HBPs in a single season.
This particular brand of record territory is nothing new for the 26-year-old.
“Yeah, I broke the all-time record at South Alabama, too,” Patterson said, recalling his collegiate career. “I got hit 56 times in three years. I think 22 came my junior year. That was pretty rough.”
The same could be said of this season as Patterson has made a particularly inviting target. He was plunked three times in one recent game and got drilled in both games a doubleheader last week in Fresno. He still sports visible bruises on both arms.
“This one came on a 94 (mph fastball),” he said, pointing to a purple patch on his right forearm. “That did not feel good. Anytime you get hit around the elbow it’s no fun. No padding, you know?”
It gets worse. Earlier this season vengeful baseballs forced Patterson into a stint on the disabled list.
“First, I fouled a ball off my (right) leg,” he said, “then I got hit by pitches twice in the exact same spot. It was really, really sore.”
The injury site later became infected, forcing Patterson to the shelf with a case of cellulitis. It did not, however, change his approach. The 6-foot-4 lefthander stands close to the plate and looks for pitches to drive.
Patterson knows what to do when he gets such a pitch — abuse the baseball. His oppotimsite-field shot off the Isotopes Park scoreboard Wednesday was No. 17 this season, good enough for third place among Pacific Coast League hitters. It was also the 98th home run of Patterson’s professional career.
He’s aware of the numbers, but Patterson is not overly concerned about surpassing Wood (who currently manages the Round Rock Express) atop the Isotopes’ career home runs list.
“I’ll be grateful and blessed if it happens,” Patterson said, “but I just work hard every day and try not pay too much attention to things like that.”
Nor does Patterson focus on his bruise totals. Despite his homer Wednesday, the baseballs still hold a narrow lead.
Patterson has been hit by pitches 99 times as a pro, one more than his home run total.
“Most of the time I don’t mind getting hit,” he said, “especially with two strikes. I strike out enough as it is, so if it happens with two strikes I’ll happily walk to first. It definitely does hurt sometimes, though. Overall I’d rather have the home run record than that one.”