John Patterson

Who is John Patterson?

John Hollis Patterson is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals franchise.

A USA Today prep All-American in his senior year at West Orange-Stark High School, Patterson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the first round of the 1996 Major League Baseball 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 solid 2002 rookie season where he had a 3.22 ERA, he had a disappointing 2003 season with the Diamondbacks. Patterson was traded back to the Expos prior to the 2004 season in exchange for Randy Choate, a left-handed reliever.

Always filled with immense potential, Patterson started to realize it 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 in 2005, posting a 9-7 record while setting career bests in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts in 31 starts.