Get to Know Patrick ...
At what age did you start playing baseball and how did you get into baseball?
- I started playing when I was 6 and I stuck with it.
What sport would you play if you did not play baseball and why?
- Basketball, I played in high school and had fun.
Who was your favorite baseball player growing up or who is someone that you model your game after?
NAME & HOMETOWN PRONUNCIATION
SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS
- Innings pitched: 6.0, vs Illinois-Chicago, Feb 18, 2024
- Walks allowed: 2, vs Kentucky, Feb 25, 2024 ; TCU, Mar 10, 2024 ; at Cincinnati, Mar 17, 2024
- Strikeouts: 5, vs Illinois-Chicago, Feb 18, 2024
- Batters faced: 28, at Cincinnati, Mar 17, 2024
- Field chances: 4, Texas Southern, Mar 03, 2024
- Putouts: 2, Texas Southern, Mar 03, 2024
- Assists: 3, Omaha, Mar 02, 2025
SENIOR – 2025
- Started six games
- 2-0, 3.55 ERA, 12.2 IP, 2 BB, 8 SO
- W, 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO at Tarleton State 2/23/25
- Made his return from Tommy John surgery on opening weekend (GS, 2.0 IP, 2 H 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO)
JUNIOR – 2024
- 2-2, 2.16 ERA, 25.0 IP, 8 BB, 20 SO, .275 BAA
- Underwent Tommy John surgery in April
- Started on Sunday each of the first six weekends
- W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO vs. Texas Southern 3/3/24; only allowed one of 17 BF to reach second base
- W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO vs. Illinois-Chicago 2/18/24; only allowed one of 21 BF to reach second
- Ranked the No. 32 JUCO to 4-year school transfer by Perfect Game
- Transferred to Kansas with two years of eligibility remaining
- Committed in October 2022
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE – 2022-23
- Spent two years in the Central Arizona program
- NJCAA DI Third Team All-American in 2023
- Career: 18-4, 2.17 ERA, 133.0 IP, 31 BB, 165 SO, 0.93 WHIP in 28 appearances (25 starts)
- 2023: 9-1, 1.06 ERA, 76.2 IP, 10 BB, 109 SO, 0.65 WHIP in 14 appearances (13 starts)
- 2022: 9-3, 3.67 ERA, 56.1 IP, 21 BB, 56 SO in 14 appearances (12 starts)
- Helped Central Arizona win the NJCAA Division I World Series in 2022
- Ranked 220th on the 2022 Perfect Game Top 500 JUCO Prospect List
HIGH SCHOOL
- Played four years of baseball at Liberty High School in Peoria, Arizona
- Ranked the No. 3 ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of Arizona, and the No. 8 overall prospect in the state according to Perfect Game in 2021
- All-State selection
- All-West Valley Preps Second Team
- Helped his team win the 6A State Championship
- Threw a complete game in the semifinals of the state tournament
- Also played basketball for four years at Liberty
PERSONAL
- Son of Jay and Melody Steitz
- Has one older sister, Lauryn
- His aunt attended KU
- Picked Kansas over Grand Canyon
- Chose Kansas because, “Kansas just felt right and with many relatives in Kansas it’s going to be a home away from home.”
- Majoring in liberal arts & sciences