WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup alumni: Australia's Patrick Crotty signs for MLB's Philadelphia Phillies
Baseball Australia announced that 17-year-old right-handed pitcher Patrick Crotty signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Crotty represented Australia at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025. He made three appearances against USA, China and Italy, allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings.
"His fastball and his slider are his best pitches hands down," commented Australia U-18 Baseball manager Jason Pospishil. "He is a really great kid. Have a lot of time for him. It's a great story of coming back from the injury he had in 2024 and getting himself ready for the World Cup. He is a big, tall, lean frame, and I think he has some more in the tank once he physically develops."
A product of Redcliffe Baseball Club, Crotty has emerged as one of Australia’s top young arms. His fastball sits above 90 miles per hour and pairs with a sharp slider, a combination that drew strong interest from scouts during the Australian Youth Championships.
"In a key outing against Victoria, Crotty threw three shutout innings in front of more than a dozen scouts, helping spark conversations that led to his signing," stated a Baseball Australia press release.
"I knew I was getting scouted for a while. I just had to be at my best at all times," commented Patrick Crotty. "After my first outing at the Australian Youth Championships, I met with the Phillies, and that relationship grew from there. Then comes the day of getting a contract. A moment I'll never forget."
Crotty had no easy path to professional baseball.
"Raised by his mum as the youngest of four boys after his dad passed away when he was one, the Queensland teenager has learned to push through challenges from an early age," stated Baseball Australia.