Where are they now: Patrick Hogan

 

Patrick Hogan’s second professional season with the Florida Marlins ended the way many other years have for the Clemson graduate, injured. This past summer Hogan, an Irmo-native, took a line-drive off his right forearm, ending his year and sending him on the shelf one more time. He presently has a titanium plate with eight screws in his arm to repair the break. At the time of the injury, he was fresh off rehabilitating his elbow from its third surgery. During his time on the mound as a member of the Marlins organization, Hogan set the rookie mark for saves in a season, was second in the New York Penn League in total saves and first in save percentage (12 out of 13). Hogan is presently rehabbing in Columbia as his younger brothers Matt and Doug (a sophomore on the Clemson baseball team) both attend his alma mater. Between teaching lessons and coaching a local fall team, Hogan took time during the off-season to answer some questions for Diamond Prospects.

DP-Please list any college statistics of importance, awards won:

PH-2002: led team in appearances; 2003-Stowe Award (Most Valuable Pitcher), two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week, 2004 Second team All-ACC, Stowe Award, led team in appearances, led team and ACC in strikeouts per nine innings, led team in saves, third all-time in Clemson history for saves in a season, third all-time in Clemson history for career saves and drafted in the 14th round by the Florida Marlins. 

DP-Please list any major high school accolades:

PH-1998 All-Region, All-Area, AAAA State Champions, Team finished in top 15 in the nation; 1999 All-Region, All-Area, #3 rated prospect in South Carolina; All-Region, All-Area, North/South All-Star in Basketball 

DP-What is your greatest high school thrill?

PH-Winning the AAAA State Championship in 1998.

DP-What is your greatest thrill, or two, beyond high school?

PH-Playing in the College World Series.

DP-Who are the three toughest hitters you ever faced?

PH-Stephen Drew from Florida State, Ryan Braun from Miami and Ryan Zimmerman from Virginia. I faced Drew and Zimmerman a couple of times in college and faced Braun this past season in pro-ball. All three of these guys are very similar, and they all absolutely owned me. All three have tremendous power, but are also very disciplined at the plate. Very seldom do they swing and miss, and they always seemed to get the barrel of the bat on the ball.

DP-What was your toughest adjustment after high school?

PH-The overall speed of the game. The college game is played at a much faster rate than high school.

DP-What is the biggest crowd you’ve ever performed in front of and where?

PH-Against Nebraska on the opening night of the College World Series. The game was sold out, and they announced attendance was somewhere around 30,000. At the time was the largest attendance ever at the CWS.

DP-In one sentence, describe the experience of playing in the College World Series:

PH-The only way to describe playing in the College World Series is “breathtaking”.

DP-Who has made the greatest impression on you as a person and why?

PH-My parents. They are two people who I truly idolize. They have always pushed and supported me 100% in anything I have pursued. I know that sounds generic, but it’s the absolute truth. I couldn’t think of two better role models to have in my life. 

DP-Who has made the greatest impression on you as a baseball player and why?

PH-Jack Leggett and Kevin O’Sullivan. The two of them have influenced and inspired me in so many different ways I don’t even know where to begin. The one thing that has always had the largest impact on me about the two of them, is their passion and dedication towards the game. Personally, I can’t imagine another pair of coaches in the country who are as dedicated and loyal to a program or their players as the two of them are to Clemson.                       

DP-Who is your favorite athlete (non-baseball)?

PH-Brett Favre. I think he exemplifies the true meaning of toughness, both physically and mentally, from every aspect. The obstacle’s he has overcome throughout his career is mind-blowing to me. 

DP-Who is your favorite MLB pitcher and position player and why?

PH-Roger Clemens. He’s a guy who I get an absolute rush out of seeing on the mound. His mental toughness and competitive approach to every game is unmatched. When he’s on the mound, he just has a look in his eye that is different from any other pitcher. I don’t think he’s a pitcher who ever backs down, or tries to pitch to a hitter’s weakness. He knows what he has, and he goes right after every hitter with his best stuff each and every pitch.   

DP-Who is your favorite MLB team?

PH-Right now it’s the Marlins! Hopefully it will remain that way.

DP-What is your favorite sport to play other than baseball?

PH-Golf. I never thought I could be so terrible at something and enjoy it so much though. I guess that’s why I like it. It’s a big challenge.

DP-What is your favorite sport to watch other than baseball?

PH-College football. I don’t know what it is about the college game that I enjoy so much more than the NFL. Saturday’s during the Fall, I could sit in front of the TV from 10 a.m. till midnight just watching football.

DP-What goals do you have for yourself in and out of baseball?

PH-Growing up, my main goal was to one day play college baseball at an upper-echelon program, and to have a chance to compete for a national championship. Since that goal has been attained, the next goal I have set for myself is reaching the big-leagues. As far as goals for myself, when I’m done playing baseball, I would one day like to be a head coach at the college level.    

DP-If you could have dinner with three people in history, who would they be and why?

PH-Babe Ruth, simply because he is the greatest baseball player of all-time. Pat Tillman, because I think he exemplifies everything that is great about the United States. Also, he did something that I don’t think anybody else in his position would have done. Last I would have to say Michael Jordan. He single handedly changed, not only the game of basketball, but the entire world of sports. 

DP-Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

PH-Coaching college baseball.

DP-Your thoughts on what Diamond Prospects can do for kids in South Carolina versus when you came through the prep ranks?

PH-I think Diamond Prospects is a tremendous advantage to any high school baseball player who one day hopes to play either at the collegiate level, or professionally. When I came through high school, I really didn’t have a good understanding as to how the whole recruiting process, MLB draft, or any of that stuff really worked. No one from my high school in recent years had been in the situation that I was in as far as choosing a college, or preparing for the draft. Therefore, I really didn’t know how to go about handling everything, and there really wasn’t anyone I could go ask. However, with Diamond Prospects, you can go on the internet and click and read articles and interviews from past and current high school baseball players, who were in your exact position. In addition, I think the counseling that is offered through Diamond Prospects is something that anyone who is unclear on the entire recruiting process should take advantage of. 

DP-Give a high school player who is reading this article one piece of advice.

PH-Have fun and give 100% every time you get to go out and compete playing baseball. Regardless of how good you are, or what level you play at, there will come a time when your playing days are over. When that day comes, make sure you can look back over your career and tell yourself that you did everything you could possibly do to be the best player you could, but at the same time, you had a blast doing it.   

DP-Patrick, Thanks so much and good luck rehabbing the arm, hope to see you back on the bump in 2006.

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