Chicago Cubs prospects: Not always a happy ending

Apr 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view as Chicago Cubs players warm up in the outfield in front of the scoreboard before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Patterson

Patterson was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as the third overall pick in the 1998 amateur draft.  Patterson had success at every level he ever played at before being called up to the Cubs.  Named to Baseball America’s and USA Today’s All-American teams in high school, Patterson had the makings of what would be a promising prospect for the Cubs.  Scouts had said that Patterson was a five-tool player and would be the kind of player that franchises would build around.

Patterson would make his major league debut in September of the 2000 season.  Heading into the 2001 season, Patterson was ranked as the second overall prospect in baseball.  Patterson would spend most of 2001 in Triple A where he did struggle.  Patterson would start out the 2002 season with the Cubs but again did not show the signs of being the much hyped prospect when he was drafted.  Patterson would also show his impatience at the plate, freely swinging away and striking out 142 times.

2003, Patterson finally started to play as expected when he was drafted second.  He was flirting with a near .300 batting average and showing some power at the plate.  An injury to his knee would cut his season short and ending what could have been a breakout season for him.  Finally in 2004 Patterson’s power numbers would arrive hitting twenty-four home runs and driving in 72 runs but still would have a lot of strikeouts.

With his struggles at the plate because of the number of strike outs and the pressure of prospect Felix Pie coming up, Patterson would continue to put up numbers that looked more like a role player than a star.  Eventually Patterson would be sent down to the minors to work on some flaws.  He would be called back up in a month but nothing changed.

Patterson’s Cubs end would be much like his beginning, bad.  He would be traded to Baltimore for two minor league players.

Next: The earlier model Kris Bryant