Patrick is the 376th former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Traverse City Pit Spitter Chad Patrick made his Major League debut on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Patrick is the 376th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Patrick, who played collegiately at Purdue University Northwest, played for the Traverse City Pit Spitters in 2019 and 2020. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2019 with the Pit Spitters, Patrick appeared in 11 games and was 4-4 with a 3.75 ERA. He struck out 45 batters in 57.2 innings while walking 16. In 2020 he pitched in seven games and was 2-1 with a 1.03 ERA. He struck out 49 batters in 35.0 innings while walking only eight.
Patrick started his professional career in 2021 with the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West League. In two games he was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA. He pitched in 5.2 innings and had six strikeouts.
In 2022 Patrick started the year with the Diamondbacks Black team in the Arizona Complex League. After three games he was sent to Visalia. After four games in Visalia, he moved up to the Hillsboro Hops of the High-A Northwest League. For the year, he pitched in 13 games and was 5-2 with a 3.30 ERA. He struck out 54 batters in 46.1 innings while walking 17.
Patrick started the 2023 season with the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the AA Texas League. After 19 games he was traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 31 and was sent to the Midland RockHounds of the AA Texas League. Then after two games in Midland he moved up to the AAA Las Vegas Aviators of the Pacific Coast League. Across the three clubs he pitched in 27 games and was 4-11 with a 5.59 ERA in 124.0 innings pitched. He struck out 129 and walked 53.
Prior to the 2024 season, Patrick was traded to the Brewers. He spent the season in the International League with the Nashville Sounds. In 136.1 innings across 26 games, he was 14-1 with a 2.90 ERA and struck out 145 batters.
In his Major League debut against the Yankees, Patrick entered the game in relief and pitched 1.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 25 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 375 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network.