May 2nd at home in the fifth inning, Patick reaches the 60 pitch threshold and gets the righty batter in an 0-2 count. The batter hadn’t looked comfortable all night. 

Behind home plate, a modest crowd in Rancho Cucamonga as Quakes fans leaned forward.

Patick didn’t overthink it. He broke off a sharp sweeper that was late and dove away. The hitter rolled it over, weakly, toward short. Routine play. Inning over.

Patick walked off the mound like he’d done it before, no fist pump, no glare. Just a quiet nod with a stride, glove at his side. Business as usual.

From the Little League games in the San Gabriel Valley to toeing the rubber for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Low-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes—Patick has walked a quieter, more focused path than most. 

His name may have been called in the 18th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but the Dodgers made a loud statement by handing him a $387,000 signing bonus — a figure well above slot for that round and more akin to the first 10 rounds.

“It was kind of a shocker,” Patick said. “They had called me earlier in the draft with an offer that I turned down… then we didn’t hear anything for a while. So when they actually picked me — it was kind of out of nowhere.”

Raised in West Covina and molded on the fields of South Hills High School, Patick’s rise is defined as much by his character as his left arm. He doesn’t carry the swagger of a flamethrower or the bravado of a top pick. Instead, he carries an earned confidence— one that South Hills coach Darren Murphy remembers well.

“He’s always been his own man,” Murphy said. “He walked his own path, didn’t follow what everyone else was doing… and from the first time he got on the mound, he had presence.”

Patick’s baseball roots are unmistakably local to the travel teams throughout the San Gabriel Valley, and eventually South Hills High. 

A school with multiple big league alumni including 2000 AL MVP Jason Giambi, his brother and longtime Oakland Athletic Jeremy Giambi and current big leaguers Ty France and Jacob Amaya. 

But although Patick ended up at the high school nestled in the hills of West Covina, it was a decision that wasn’t always guaranteed.

“We weren’t sure we’d even get him,” Murphy recalled. “He was homeschooled early on, and it took a real leap of faith from his family. But once he got here, he became part of the program and the school instantly.”

The adjustment from homeschool to public high school might mess with some people that age. Patick didn’t flinch. “He’s mentally different,” Murphy said. “The physical side needed to catch up, sure. But mentally? He was ready.”

That maturity showed up in his work ethic, as well. Patick wasn’t loud, but he was always consistent. A 4.0 student, respectful and relentlessly focused. Everything a coach could ask for.

“He’s incredibly intelligent,” Murphy added. “And he’ll only listen to people he respects. But if he trusts you, you can say anything to him.”

By his junior year, the physical tools of a pitcher began to match the mental edge. Patick’s velocity jumped, his command sharpened and the path to pro ball became not only viable, but visible.

Offers came from Long Beach State and UC Irvine, but Patick committed to UC Santa Barbara — citing head coach Andrew Checketts’ development track record and the draw of a beachside campus. “It just felt like the right fit,” Patick said.

Like South Hills, UC Santa Barbara is no stranger to its alumni being sprinkled throughout the big leagues with fellow pitchers and eventual Cy Young award winners Shane Bieber and Barry Zito once calling UCSB home. 

And yet, when the Dodgers called again — this time with a surprising bonus offer — Patick followed his gut.

“My dream has always been to play for the Dodgers,” he said. “It was finally an opportunity for me… it felt hard to pass that up.”

His coach agreed with the call.

“He’s smart. He knew he could go back to school later,” Murphy said. “But as a pitcher, you only have so many bullets. And when the hometown team comes calling…it’s magic.”

After the decision to sign, Patick shipped off to Camelback Ranch in Arizona where he admits the first few weeks in pro ball were jarring. The hitters were better. The routine was different. The independence, new.

“You’re kind of thrown into adult life,” he said. “The first month was rough, honestly… just getting used to everything, finding my off-speed stuff.”

Still, the upside is clear. In May of this year alone, Patick posted a sub-2.00 ERA across 18.1 innings with the Quakes, and showing up at number 35 on Fangraphs top 51 Dodgers prospects showing the kind of command and growth the Dodgers hoped for when they overspent on his upside.

Right now, he’s working on sharpening his secondary pitches. “My stuff is there,” he said. “I just need to throw it in the zone more.”

His pitching style, a natural crossfire delivery reminiscent of Giants reliever Ryan Walker — developed mostly on its own. When bringing up that comparison Patick let out a chuckle.

“Yeah, I mean, as a pitcher, you’re always kind of adjusting things. But I’d say most of my mechanics have just developed naturally to just how I throw. Some of the things that are kind of set cues for me is kind of like Ryan Walker, I do like landing a little crossfire” Patick said. 

Ask anyone around him, and they’ll say the same: Sterling Patick hasn’t changed.

He still keeps in touch with old friends. Still represents his city, his school, and his family with quiet pride. “It’s definitely a blessing to be able to represent my area. It’s always been a cool experience for sure. Patick mentioned.

Murphy puts it more bluntly: “He’s got integrity. He remembers where he came from. He earned all of this.”

Now, Patick’s eyes are set on what’s next. His five-year plan? “On the mound at Dodger Stadium.”

If you ask Coach Murphy, don’t bet against him. “He stays healthy,” Murphy said, “he’s going to make it.”