David Patton; One Year Later

This is one of several cards issued for David Patton last season.



Not too shabby to be included in Allen and Ginter your rookie season. He also had cards in Topps' Update set, Topps Chrome, and O-Pee-Chee.

Patton came to the Cubs over the winter of 08-09 in the Rule 5 draft. He had never pitched above A ball, but the Cubs apparently saw something they liked. He threw well enough in spring training to make the team. The only problem was that as a Rule 5 draftee, the Cubs had to keep him on the major league roster for the season or return him to his original team, the Rockies.

By July 4, 2009, Patton had a 3-1 record. That's the good news. The bad news is that his ERA was 5.62. Either he got a win, or he gave up runs. I think the Cubs would have sent him to AAA if they could, but instead, Patton got "injured." I put that in quotes because I don't remember any talk of any injury before he went on the DL. And then all of a sudden, he was hurt. Going on the DL cleared a roster spot, but allowed the Cubs to keep Patton. He later got some "rehab" work in AA and AAA before returning to the Cubs when the rosters expanded. He gave up six runs in 3.2 innings in September. His ERA for the season....6.83.

Fast forward to 2010 and here is what you David Patton collectors are picking up:



That's not the Chicago Cubs, it's the Daytona Cubs, the Cubs High A team. He's gone from the National League to the Florida State League. And things aren't going too well in Daytona, either. He's got a 2-4 record with a 6.27 ERA.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last David Patton card that will be made.