MILWAUKEE — Everyone loves a good Cinderella, underdog story. Add new Brewers pitcher Nathan Patterson to that list. You won't believe how he was discovered.
"C'mon Nathan, do it again. 96! Yeah!" fans cheer.
It's the incredible video that went viral.
"It's like the sports version of American Idol, or like this one moment that you have," Nathan Patterson says.
Patterson throws 96 miles an hour in a speed pitch game at Coors Field. And the Oakland A's organization signed him.
"It definitely feels a little movie like when I go back and kind of like walk through what happened and how I got into professional baseball," Patterson says.
Patterson just turned 25, so he spent nearly six years out of baseball, after injuring his elbow in high school.
"I was moved on," Patterson says. "I was in sales. I had a whole career ahead of me. And this just kind of hit me in the face one day. And I said you know what? If I don't pursue this. If I don't chase this dream and roll with this? I know I'm going to wake up when I'm 30, 35, 40. And I'm going to have so many regrets."
He did landscaping and sold computer software.
"I think I come into professional ball with a really good perspective, just on life. Just because I've lived on my own. I know what it's like. I know what it's like to fail," Patterson says. "And I think that's a huge thing that guys have to learn."
Oh yeah, and he was hit by a car in Nashville.
"One day I just got clobbered by a car on the way to the facility," Paterson says. "And broke my wrist and had surgery, and I got a pretty good scar. But yeah had a screw put in."
But somehow, he's here. And making the most, of his chance.
"I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I am so grateful to have this opportunity," Patterson says. "And then you know the second thing is, it just, it reminds me how special and how important this journey is, not just for me but for my whole family and my friends and everybody."
Patterson plans to use his platform and story to motivate others who face adversity. And wants to partner with nonprofits to help good causes.
Patterson signed with the Brewers organization. But he is not with the major league team, or at spring training. He will go with the minor leaguers in a month or so.
