The following is a review of Orioles minor leaguer Troy Patton.
What I wrote then: "Patton was the Astros' best prospect before being traded to Baltimore for Miguel Tejada.He had problems with the long ball last season, and his strikeout rate dropped greatly from previous seasons.Patton's full season of success with an ERA in the mid-3.00's was impressive, but his curveball was not missing as many bats as the past.Patton's low-90s fastball is his true bread and butter, and he has done a fine job avoiding walks to this point.Health is a concern for baseball after he finished 2007 with biceps tendinitis.If he shows up to spring training healthy, Patton could should be capable of winning a rotation spot and making a decent AL-only contribution. ETA: 2008"
Review: Patton was sidelined during spring training due to an arm injury, and he didn't pitch at all during the 2008 season. The Orioles had another last-place campaign but go into 2009 with plenty of optimism due to their improved farm system. Patton has a chance to make an impact during the 2009 season if his arm is healthy, but that is a big if following a year off. He had a partially torn labrum, and history shows that it is more difficult to return from a shoulder baseball than any other injury for pitchers. The Orioles have the farm system to make a Tampa Bay Rays-like improvement somewhere down the line, but that improvement is unlikely to occur this early in the game.
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