Alec Patino’s not a showy guy. He doesn’t like to broadcast his emotions on the field.
No matter what's happening, Patino is level-headed. The only words that escape his mouth in the dugout are ones of encouragement toward his team. He doesn’t go overboard to celebrate a hit and he doesn’t let people see when he’s down.
However, there is an emotion that fuels Patino each game: love.
“As long as I’ve known, I’ve loved the game of baseball. I can’t stay away from it,” Patino said.
The junior found that he feels ill when he hasn’t picked up a bat in a while. He can’t go long without being near or playing the sport.
Patino grew up running around dugouts. His father played professional baseball and shared his knowledge of the game with his son at a young age. When Patino was younger, the two would sometimes bicker about the way Patino played, but the close guidance paid off.
Patino’s father helped introduce him to Marc Rardin, the former head coach at Iowa Western Community College and current head coach at Western Kentucky. At that moment, Patino knew that he was on the JUCO route.
“I truly believe my two years at Western changed how I was as a player, just learning the game and understanding the game,” Patino said.
Toward the start of his second season with the Reivers, Patino began looking for a new home. His time on the JUCO route was about to expire and he wasn’t ready to give up his love.
Patino pondered his next stop while training with friends back home. It was January, so he still had time to figure things out. Two of his friends — Colin Kasperbauer and Brenden Roder — made his search a little easier. The two ended their JUCO journey at Ohio, and they thought it would be a great landing spot for Patino, too.
Not soon after, Patino received a call from Ohio assistant coach Kirby McGuire. McGuire had heard about Patino and liked his swing. The two talked for a little bit and Patino received an offer.
All it took was one visit for Patino to know Ohio was the place for him. He knew that the coaches were going to help him develop as a player and further his love for the sport.
“That’s one thing I really take pride in,” Patino said. “I want to play for someone that can actually make me develop as a player and a person.”
Patino is in the first month of his career as a Bobcat, and he’s already taken the Mid-American Conference by storm. After just one weekend of play, Patino was named the MAC Player of the Week.
It’s been a long time coming for Patino. From little league fields to Division I stadiums, his love for baseball has carried him everywhere.
“It’s been my dream growing up for as long as I can remember,” Patino said. “I’d go to sleep dreaming of me being a Division I baseball player. Even like lifting I catch myself daydreaming about being in cool situations and stuff like that. Growing up playing baseball, you picture yourself doing all these things the big leaguers are doing.”
Since day one, Patino knew that baseball was his passion and he’s pursued it with his whole heart. He’s no longer the little kid following his dad around, but rather a leader on a college team.
“I knew this is what I wanted to do when I was pretty young and I stuck with it,” Patino said. “I’m glad I did.”
