6’7 LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (St. Anthony’s/Rutgers) is back from Tommy John and up to 93 MPH pic.twitter.com/9VxNoGiDIj
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 11, 2020
(Photo Credit: Steve Hockstein)
Brian Fitzpatrick is a 6’7 southpaw that dominated the Cape Cod League this summer. He allowed no runs over 19 innings for the Brewster Whitecaps against the top collegiate players in the country. Without a doubt that rocketed his value. He had Tommy John but is fully back and his best baseball may still be ahead of him as he only pitched 45 innings at Rutgers over 3 seasons. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft last month. On paper, this is the type of player that would have an excellent chance to move through the system quick and make it to the big leagues in 3 seasons. The Brewers are on the cutting edge of developing pitchers. If they turned Corbin Burnes from the NL’s worst pitcher in 2019 to the Cy Young winner in 2021, what can they do with Fitz?
Prior to his time at Rutgers, he played at St. Anthony’s. The Friars are no strangers to fielding standout athletes, but he’s now put himself into that rarified air of professional athletes and with his height, his stuff and his youth, the sky is the limit. As of this writing, he’s begun his pro career with one shutout inning with a strikeout.
I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say…
What has the past month been like?
The past month has been an absolute whirlwind. It still really hasn’t set in yet but it was a crazy moment and a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Who are some people that have had a positive impact on your career?
Some people who have had a positive impact on my career are my coaches from school, my teammates and my parents. Without them sacrificing so much for me growing up, I don’t think I would be here.
What was it like pitching in the Cape Cod League? Could you have even envisioned a better scenario than what played out?
Pitching in the Cape was vital to my career. I was fortunate enough to go there back-to-back summers and it really is baseball heaven out there. It was great competition against the nation’s top collegiate baseball players. I’m very pleased with how I did out there and I think that my success had a massive contribution to me getting picked up where I did.
Who were some of your favorite players in Major League Baseball when you were growing up?
My favorite players growing up were Jose Reyes and Jacob deGrom. The way Jose approached the game having so much fun on the field always smiling and enjoying himself was something that I took with me and try to do whenever I’m at the yard. And deGrom is simply just a master at his craft and has a will to get even better which is a trait that I try to emulate on the mound.
What are some of your fondest memories of growing up and playing ball on Long Island?
Some of my fondest memories are driving out to Mattituck and Greenport to play for the All League Hitmen with my dad. We would have great conversations and talk about the game and how I could have done better or what I did well that day.
How did you stay focused and motivated during your Tommy John rehab? Were there any times you began to doubt that you could return to your peak form?
Any time you get injured there’s always that doubt in your mind that say “will I ever play the kid’s game again?” And of course that filtered through my mind. When I blew my arm out, it was a very hard time in my life but what kept me going was this dream. I knew that I wanted to do this since I could pick up a baseball and nothing was going to get in the way of that.
Favorite type of food?
Chicken wings
Favorite type of music?
Rap
Favorite app on your phone?
YouTube
Favorite show on Netflix?
Rhythm + Flow
Favorite vacation spot?
Fenway Park
Dream Car?
Black Ram Rebel
