Bio

Patrick Boyle enters his second year with the Grizzlies and as a professional in 2019.

Boyle appeared in 36 games for Gateway a year ago, second on the team behind only Josh Glick, who set a single-season franchise record with 43 appearances. Boyle pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. He finished the season 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA. The southpaw struck out 54 batters in only 40 innings and the league hit a measly .196 against him, but he also walked 35 (as opposed to 29 hits allowed). Before allowing runs in three of his last four appearances of the year, Boyle’s ERA was at 3.82 on Aug. 22 (10 days before the end of the season).

Boyle had dominant stretches: From June 27 to Aug. 7, he pitched 10 1/3 innings over 11 games without allowing a single run. Over those six weeks, he lowered his ERA from 5.40 to 3.56. The most important thing for Boyle is limiting walks: In appearances last season in which he had at least one walk, Boyle posted a 6.52 ERA (29 innings). In the appearances in which Boyle did not allow a walk, he also did not allow a run (0.00 ERA, 11 innings).

A physically imposing left-hander, Boyle finished his collegiate career at nearby NAIA powerhouse Missouri Baptist University. MBU is in Creve Coeur, Mo. — about 25 miles west of GCS Credit Union Ballpark. As a senior Spartan in 2017, Boyle was 7-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 80 innings pitched, which ranked third on the ballclub. He struck out a team-leading 95 batters, but walked 53.

Boyle, who will turn 26 on Aug. 28, pitched at Sinclair Community College and the University of Cincinnati before concluding at Missouri Baptist.

FRONTIER LEAGUE CAREER HIGHS (single-game)

Innings: 2 1/3, twice; vs. Schaumburg (May 11, 2018)*; @ Evansville (June 5, 2018)

Strikeouts: 5, vs. Schaumburg; May 11, 2018*

*NOTE: May 11 was opening day of the 2018 Frontier League season and Boyle’s first-ever game as a professional. Gateway beat the defending-champion Schaumburg Boomers, 6-2, at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget.