2014 Underclass Spotlight: Matt Patton, SS/RHP, East Noble HS

Matt Patton, is a 6-foot 165 pound shortstop/right handed pitcher from East Noble High School. Patton showed athletic actions in the infield with good rhythm. Patton played through the ball well with good hands. He also demonstrated good foot speed with a 6.91 sixty. At the plate, Patton was solid. He is a line drive hitter with a good approach. His swing path is a little long, but he barrels a lot of balls. He has average power, but should hit for a high average.

PBR: What are your expectations for the recruiting process?
Matt: My expectations for the recruiting process would have to be getting recognized as a player who had baseball knowledge and has the right mechanics to be able to compete at a high level.

PBR: What level of baseball do you see yourself playing at the next level?
Matt: D1 or D2

PBR: What schools are you most interested in right now, and why?
Matt: The school I have the most interest for right now would have to be the University of Michigan. It is a great school with a great baseball program and great place to get a diploma from. There are still a lot of other options out there. I would like to find one that would be a good fit for baseball and academics.

PBR: What aspect of your game do you believe needs the most improvement?
Matt: Need to become stronger and pick up some lbs in muscle.

PBR: What are your personal goals for the upcoming 2012 season?
Matt: In High School, my goals are to hit for an average above .400 and lead the area in runs scored. Have a fielding percentage above .995 with 2 or less errors. Have 15 or more stolen bases. For summer ball, my goals are to hit above .375 and also keep my fielding percentage around .995 or above. Also I would like to have my ERA lower than 2.50 throughout the summer.

PBR: What are your high school team goals for the 2012 season?
Matt: High school season will be a rebuilding year this year for East Noble. We would like to finish in the top 5 in our conference with a record over .500. We are challenging each other to get better every swing and every practice.

PBR: What team do you play for in the summer?
Matt: The Indiana Chargers 17u Orange.

PBR: What is your fondest memory or highlight from your 2011 baseball season (High School or Summer)?
Matt: There is no doubt in my mind it would have to be on the final day of a tournament at the University of Michigan. We started off by playing the #1 seed. I pitched and threw a 1 hitter to help our team win easily. Then we played again right after and I came back and threw that game too and threw another 1 hitter to get our team to the championship.

PBR: What were your stats for your 2011 HS season? Summer Season?
Matt: High School Varsity Stats:   

G   AB   R   H   1B   2B   3B   HR   RBI   BB   Avg.   Obp.   HBP   SB   TB

28   80  34  31   22    8      0     1      13    19   .388    .524      4       13    42

PBR: Have you decided on a major or narrowed it down?
Matt: Accounting