Derek Patterson gives Alcorn State a young, left-to-right catcher with timely pop
Derek Patterson, a freshman catcher for Alcorn State in the 2026 season, has shown enough bat-to-ball and gap power to earn real opportunities, including a pinch-hit RBI double in the Braves’ March 6 loss at Mercer. His 2026 line on Alcorn’s stats page shows a .286 average and .804 OPS, which points to a hitter who can contribute without needing to be the star of the show. The appeal is the catcher profile: depth, athletic enough to stay playable, and productive in spot duty. If a team wants a low-drama, high-utility backstop with upside, Patterson is worth a look.
