Patrick attended D. H. Conley High School in Winterville, North Carolina, where he played baseball, basketball and football.

He had scholarship offers to play both football and baseball at NC State University but chose instead to sign with the Oakland Athletics after they selected him in the 23rd round of the 1988 MLB draft with the 593rd overall pick.

Patrick had agreed to play as a "replacement player" in the wake of the 1994 baseball strike, but his MLB debut was postponed when the two sides struck a deal.

[2] Until his Major League debut in 1998, he spent ten years languishing in the Oakland, Houston and Milwaukee farm systems.

The home run in question was Sosa's 61st of the season, tying the previous mark set by Yankees outfielder Roger Maris, and placing him one behind McGwire, who had hit his 62nd on September 8.

[6] The Giants rewarded him for his good work with a September callup, and he appeared in six games for them, picking up a win and a save despite a 10.12 ERA.

He was one of the top pitchers in the Mexican League in 2003, with his 13–2 record helping the Diablos Rojos del Mexico win their 14th championship.

"[citation needed] In between, Patrick played winter ball with the Leones del Caracas and Tiburones de La Guaira clubs of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in three seasons spanning 1997–2005.

[citation needed] In February 2022, Patrick joined Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League as pitching coach.