Purdue University Northwest Athletics proudly announced the retirement of the baseball jersey of former Pride standout pitcher Chad Patrick, honoring one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history and celebrating a legacy that began in Hammond and now continues on the mound in Major League Baseball.
Patrick, currently a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, made history as the first Purdue Northwest student-athlete to be drafted by a major professional organization when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. His journey from collegiate ace to the sport's highest level stands as a defining moment for PNW Athletics and a benchmark of excellence for future student-athletes.
A member of the Pride baseball program from 2018–2021, Patrick developed into one of the most dominant pitchers in NCAA Division II. His senior season ranks among the finest ever recorded at Purdue Northwest, highlighted by earning 2021 GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-GLIAC, and national recognition as a D2CCA Third Team All-American. He was also named to the First Team NCBWA Midwest All-Region and D2CCA First Team Midwest All-Region.
Patrick's consistency and growth were evident throughout his collegiate career. He earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC as a freshman in 2018, Second Team All-GLIAC honors as a sophomore in 2019, and was a three-time GLIAC All-Academic honoree, exemplifying excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Statistically, Patrick's name is etched throughout the Purdue Northwest record book. He finished his career with a 3.31 ERA, ranking third all-time in program history, while setting school records in nearly every major pitching category, including 27 career starts, 13 complete games, 12 wins, 5 shutouts, 166 innings pitched, 211 strikeouts, and 726 batters faced.
His 2021 campaign was especially historic, setting single-season program records with 97 strikeouts, 3 shutouts, 7 complete games, a 1.83 ERA, and a .180 opponent batting average.
Patrick also holds four of the top five single-game strikeout performances in program history, further underscoring his dominance on the mound.
In recognition of his impact, Purdue Northwest Athletics retired Patrick's jersey, ensuring his legacy will forever serve as a symbol of excellence and perseverance.
"Chad Patrick represents everything we strive for a student-athlete to be," said Director of Athletics, Rick Costello. "He competed at an elite level, carried himself with integrity, and elevated Purdue Northwest baseball to new heights. Retiring his jersey is not only a celebration of his incredible achievements, but a lasting reminder to our student-athletes of what is possible when talent, work ethic, and character come together."
As Chad Patrick continues his professional career on baseball's biggest stage, Purdue Northwest proudly celebrates one of its own, sketched in history, forever a legend.
