Tommy John surgery ended Patteson’s 2022 college season early at Central Florida, but the Royals were convinced enough in their scouting of him and his makeup that they still drafted him in the fifth round that year. It took Patteson time to come back from the injury and start to make an impact, but his stuff shot up in 2025. He made 13 starts in High-A with a 1.99 ERA, while holding batters to a .199 average. He finished the year with 11 appearances (eight starts) in Double-A, where he had a 4.41 ERA.
Patteson’s fastball hovered around 90-92 mph over the past few years, but once he got to Double-A in ‘25, he started running it up to the mid 90s and touching 97. The velo spike, which was more about a return to his pre-TJ form, also helped his main breaking ball become more firm as a mid-80s average slider that tries to be gyro but can get a little sweepy. Patteson also throws a curveball with good depth and feel to land it for strikes. His best weapon, though, is a mid-80s changeup with plus potential. Patteson throws strikes and has a clean delivery, hiding the ball well with short arm action.
Lauded for his pitchability and being a student of the game, Patteson might be a late bloomer but is really coming into his own now that he’s reached the upper levels. He needs to show more consistency at Double-A and continue to refine his secondaries, but if the stuff continues to look like what it did there in ‘25, he has back-end rotation potential. The Royals might try him in the bullpen to see whether the stuff ticks up even more.
