Remember former Chicago Cubs prospect Eric Patterson? He's returning to the Iowa Cubs, as a coach
The last time Eric Patterson suited up for the Iowa Cubs was July 8, 2008.
Patterson, who was once considered an important part of the organization’s future, went back into the Principal Park clubhouse following batting practice that day and checked his phone. His dad reached out to him and wanted to know why Patterson didn't let him know that he was traded
Patterson had a good reason. He didn't know.
“I was like, ‘Dude, I haven’t heard anything but If I hear anything, I’ll let you know,’” Patterson recalled.
More:This small-town Iowa kid became a big-time MLB pitching prospect for San Francisco Giants
About 10 minutes later, Patterson was called into manager Pat Listach’s office and was told he was being traded to the Oakland Athletics along with Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton and another up-and-coming youngster, Josh Donaldson.
“It was kind of bittersweet,” Patterson said. “It sucked leaving the organization, but at the same time, it was good knowing that I was going to an organization that I was wanted and there was a need there as well.”
Patterson is coming back to Des Moines. The Chicago Cubs announced Friday that Patterson would be joining the Triple-A team as a bench coach. He’ll be part of a staff that includes Marty Pevey returning for his 11th season as the skipper. Ron Villone returns as the pitching coach and John Mallee will be the hitting coach.
“I always enjoyed my playing time there,” Patterson said. “Obviously it’s a great city and great fan base. I’m excited to see how much it’s changed.”
Patterson, the younger brother of former Cubs prospect Corey Patterson, was a star in the making himself. He was an eighth-round pick by the Cubs back in 2004 and played in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game. He was ranked the sixth-best prospect in the organization by Baseball America prior to the 2007 season and made his big-league debut later that year.
More:Cedar Rapids native Mitch Keller is coming off his best season as a big-league pitcher
The left-handed hitting Patterson played parts of three seasons in Des Moines and appeared in 20 games with Chicago between 2007 and 2008 before he was traded to the Athletics. He also went on to play in the big leagues with the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox.
Patterson, who was in Independent League ball for three seasons, last played in 2015. Afterward, he returned to school at Georgia Tech and worked as a volunteer on the team’s staff. Patterson wasn't sure if he wanted to stay in baseball. But it was during his time back in college that he realized he wanted to get into coaching.
“Just seeing the impact that you can have on guys and their careers, I think is something that really kind of drew me into it,” Patterson said.
After missing out on a scouting job with the Cubs, the team called him back and offered him a coaching role for the 2020 MiLB season that was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patterson worked with the Cubs’ High-A affiliate in South Bend in 2021 as assistant hitting coach and spent 2022 as Rookie Ball hitting coach for the club.
He believes he has plenty to offer with an extensive resume as a player. Patterson, a former infielder and outfielder, was a promising prospect and then big-league utilityman man before finishing his career in Indy Ball.
“What these players are going through, there’s not too many players, at least position player-wise, that are going through something that I probably haven’t seen or been part of,” Patterson said.
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Chicago Cubs prospect Eric Patterson returning to Iowa as bench coach
