Kivlehan Called Up to San Diego Padres
Aug 20 | Baseball
SAN DIEGO - Adding another chapter to a remarkable story, former Rutgers baseball and football standout Patrick Kivlehan was promoted to the San Diego Padres in a roster move announced Saturday. He made his Major League Baseball debut as the starting left fielder against Arizona at Petco Park and went 2-for-4 with a home run. The long ball, which came in his second big-league plate appearance, was measured by Statcast at 464 feet.
"It is great to see another Scarlet Knight get called up," Rutgers head baseball coach Joe Litterio said. "Pat was a tremendous asset to our program. I wish him all the best."
Video: Touch 'em all Patrick Kivlehan! https://t.co/fHzExE11SI
— Rutgers Baseball (@BaseballRU) August 21, 2016
After playing 43 games on the gridiron over four seasons (2008-11) as a safety for the Scarlet Knights, Kivlehan decided to try out for the RU baseball team for the spring of his senior year. That was despite not having played the sport since his final year of high school, where he hit 13 home runs at Saint Joseph's (Montvale).
Legendary head coach Fred Hill, who skippered the program from 1984-2014 and won 1,089 collegiate games, noticed the athleticism of Kivlehan and added him to the roster, hoping he could help as a pinch runner. It would turn out Kivlehan would contribute more than that after an unexpected opening at third base.
Kivlehan reached base once in two games at No. 13 Miami to start the season, but turned it on after that with two hits in four-straight games, including all three in a series at No. 9 Georgia Tech. That solidified his starting spot at third and he popped his first collegiate home run in the home opener versus Rider. In the conference-opening series at Seton Hall, he opened eyes across the league by reaching base in 12-of-15 plate appearances, including a majestic home run into the centerfield bleachers, to earn Big East Player of the Week.
The production continued from that point, as he hit .410 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 27 conference games to claim the first triple crown in Big East history. Overall, he batted .392 with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs and 24 stolen bases during the season, to go with a .693 slugging percentage and .480 on-base percentage to win Big East Player of the Year and Third Team All-America status by Baseball America.
Scouts took notice as the season progressed and the Seattle Mariners selected Kivlehan in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He won MVP of the Northwest League in his first taste of professional baseball, eventually moving up the system. Kivlehan was dealt to the Texas Rangers last offseason, but was selected back to Seattle in May. San Diego claimed Kivlehan Aug. 4 and sent him to Triple-A El Paso and he hit .341/.356/.500 in 12 games with the Chihuahuas to earn the promotion to the big leagues. In 553 minor league games, he slugged 80 home runs with 363 RBIs.
Kivlehan is the first Scarlet Knight to make his MLB debut since Todd Frazier, who is now on the Chicago White Sox, was called up be the Cincinnati Reds in 2011.
@PatrickKivlehan can't believe it dog. Enjoy the day it's your 1st of everything take a step back and enjoy the hell out of it #RU
— Todd Frazier (@FlavaFraz21) August 20, 2016
Patrick Kivlehan is the 10th Padre to record a multi-hit debut -- and the first to notch a HR as one of those hits. pic.twitter.com/2lhLEp32bU
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 21, 2016
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