Cypress’ Jeff Patterson Signs With Phillies

Jeff Patterson, who set a Cypress College single-season pitching record for strikeouts with 126 this spring, has a signed a contract to play in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization, Patterson said Tuesday.

Patterson was drafted by the Phillies last June, and the team retained his rights until the upcoming June 5 draft. Patterson will now pass on a full scholarship to Arizona State, which he agreed to in mid-April.

“That was what made the choice tough,” Patterson said. “But the offer was right. It’s been a dream of mine since I was little, and now it’s time to see if I can do something about it.”

Patterson will go to a mini-camp in Martinsville, Va., June 9-12, then will be assigned to a rookie league or a Class-A team. Patterson, a sophomore right-hander, was 10-4 this season with two saves. He pitched in 21 games, making 10 starts. He had a 3.13 earned-run average in 126 1/3 innings, allowing 107 hits and walking 46.

Patterson, who is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, was 6-3 as a freshman for Cypress.