 The Yankees selected Patterson in the first round (7th pick) of the 1975 MLB Draft out of Miami Dade Community College in Miami, FL.A 19-year-old rookie, he was immediately assigned to Class Low-A Oneonta Yankees, where he posted an 8–4 record with a 1.95 ERA and one shutout in 14 games (13 starts), while his 97 strikeouts in 106.0 innings pitched led the New York-Penn League.The Cincinnati Reds tried to trade for him, offering Tony Pérez, a future Hall of Famer, but the Yankees declined the offer.