Fan Who Topped 90 in Stadium Booth Wins MLB Contract

Nathan Patterson played baseball in high school, but, he says, "I didn't really have a good arm then." He didn't play in college. Then, while attending a minor league game last summer, Patterson stepped into a pitching booth and hit 96mph on the radar gun; the average major-league fastball is about 93, per CBS. The Oakland A's took notice. And at a Colorado Rockies game last month, he did it again. His brother Christian posted video of the demonstration on Twitter, saying, "Let's get him signed!" Now, the Oakland A's have obliged.

Late last year, Patterson had surgery on his non-pitching arm after being hurt in an auto accident. With his interest in pitching renewed, he continued to train and play in a recreational league, per USA Today. He posted a photo on Instagram on Friday showing him signing his contract. "Words cannot describe this feeling," Patterson, 23, wrote. He thanked everyone who has supported him as he pursues a dream "that I’ve had since I was a little kid," including his family. (More MLB stories.)