Corey Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corey Patterson |
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Patterson with the Washington Nationals
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: August 13, 1979 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 18, 2000, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 2011, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .252 | ||
| Home runs | 118 | ||
| Runs batted in | 431 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Donald Corey Patterson (born August 13, 1979) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Corey played for several teams from 2000 to 2011. Today, he manages the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt Baseball League. Corey is the older brother of baseball player Eric Patterson. His father, Don Patterson, was a defensive back in the NFL.
Corey Patterson's Early Baseball Days
Corey Patterson went to Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. In 1998, his senior year, he helped his team win the Georgia state championship. He had an amazing batting average of .528. This means he got a hit more than half the times he tried!
That year, he also scored 81 runs, hit 22 home runs, and had 61 RBI (Runs Batted In). He also stole 38 stolen bases in 38 games. Because of his great performance, he was named one of the best amateur players in the country.
Corey Patterson's Professional Career
Starting with the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs chose Corey Patterson as the third overall pick in the 1998 Major League Baseball draft. This meant he was one of the first players picked from all the young talent.
He started playing professionally in 1999 with the Lansing Lugnuts. He was named the "Prospect of the Year" for his league. He led the league in slugging percentage (.592), which shows how many bases a player gets per at-bat. He also hit .320 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI. Baseball America called him the best young player in the league.
In 2000, Corey moved up to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. He continued to play well, hitting 22 home runs and 82 RBI. Later that year, he was called up to play for the Cubs in Major League Baseball. He made his first MLB appearance on September 18, 2000. The very next day, he hit his first Major League hit, which was a home run!
Corey became a full-time player in 2002. In 2003, he was batting really well, with a .298 average. However, he got a serious knee injury (a torn ACL) while running to first base. This injury ended his season early.
In 2004, Corey played 157 games. He hit .266 with 24 home runs and 72 RBI. In 2005, he struggled and was sent down to a minor league team for a month. He returned to the Cubs later that season.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles
In 2006, the Cubs traded Corey to the Baltimore Orioles. In his first year with the Orioles, he batted .276 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. He also stole 45 bases, which was the third-highest in the American League. He played for the Orioles for two seasons.
Time with the Cincinnati Reds
Corey signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2008. His former manager from the Cubs, Dusty Baker, was now managing the Reds and wanted Corey on his team. Corey started the season as the center fielder. However, his batting average dropped, and he was sent back to the minor leagues for a short time. He finished the season with a .205 batting average.
Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers
In 2009, Corey signed with the Washington Nationals. He played a few games for them but spent most of his time in the minor leagues. Later that year, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played well for their minor league team but struggled in his few games with the main Brewers team.
Back to Baltimore and Toronto Blue Jays
Corey returned to the Baltimore Orioles in 2010. On July 9, 2010, he hit his first career grand slam. This is a home run hit when all three bases are occupied, scoring four runs! It was an exciting moment that tied the game in the 9th inning.
In 2011, Corey signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He started the season on the disabled list due to a head injury. He made his debut with the Blue Jays on April 11, 2011, and hit a home run in that game.
Finishing with the St. Louis Cardinals
On July 27, 2011, Corey was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He finished his Major League Baseball career with the Cardinals that season.
Later Career Teams
After 2011, Corey continued to play in the minor leagues for a few more years. He signed contracts with the Milwaukee Brewers again in 2012, the New York Mets in 2013, and the Seattle Mariners again in 2013. He also played briefly for the New York Yankees minor league team in 2013 before becoming a free agent.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
