Fair Lawn Hurler Pat Lehman Making Way Through the Minors

The bases were loaded with no outs when Harrisburg reliever Pat Lehman arrived for a June 23 outing against Richmond, but the newest Senator was already being trusted in a big spot.

Sixteen pitches later, after a strikeout, shallow fly out and another strikeout, the right-hander had preserved a 3-2, seventh-inning lead of what became a rain-shortened 3-2 win over Richmond.

So much for needing time to adjust to a new level.

"The adrenaline was flowing," the former ace said. "It's one of the good experiences I've had in my career. The biggest thing is trusting my stuff and knowing I can pitch here."

Lehman has fit in seamlessly as he continues his climb toward the Washington Nationals, the team that drafted him in the 13th round out of George Washington University.

In six appearances with the Senators, Lehman has allowed two hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. He was equally devastating with Single-A Potomac, sporting a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings, leading to his June 10 promotion.

With the P-Nats, Lehman was closing until elbow tightness forced him to the disabled list. He was activated shortly before coming to Harrisburg.

Throwing strikes has been Lehman's ticket this far. He's walked just 31 batters in 179 minor-league innings in three seasons, with 149 hits allowed, a WHIP of 1.006. The free pass he issued in his June 10 Eastern League debut was his first since Aug. 28, 2010.

"He commands the ball really well with enough velocity, and has a real good change-up," said pitching coach Randy Tomlin, a former big-leaguer with the Pittsburgh Pirates. "He's a bulldog who throws a lot of strikes. As long as he keeps attacking the zone, he'll hold his own up here."

He's been doing it since Fair Lawn High, when he and Rutherford High School star Vin Mazzaro—now pitching for the Kansas City Royals—were often linked as Bergen County's two best pitchers. In 2005, Lehman's 13th-ranked Cutters upset Mazzaro's 4th-seeded Bulldogs in the second round of the Bergen County baseball tournament.

While Mazzaro went from high school to the professional ranks, Lehman attended George Washington University, a school that has produced five big league players, including former catcher John Flaherty.

A two-way player as a freshman, he committed to pitching during his sophomore and junior seasons, posting ERAs of 5.31 and 5.28, respectively. He blossomed as a senior with a 2.44 ERA in 96 innings, and was snagged by the Nationals in the 13th round, 12 rounds after the team made Steven Strasburg the No. 1 overall pick.

"That was exciting to see him go, because you think you'll eventually be teammates for a long time," Lehman said. "I knew I was probably going to get drafted; it was just a matter of what round and by who. I was happy to get taken by Washington."

Lehman, who grew up rooting for Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter, has justified the team's chance on him by steadily advancing. Though he's likely at Double-A for the rest of this season, Triple-A isn't out of the question.

Should he eventually throw a big-league pitch, Lehman will become the third Fair Lawn graduate to reach the highest level, joining former pitchers Ron Perranoski and Tom Acker, who combined for 98 wins.

Though he has never met either man, Lehman feels connected to his home town and the position they played.

"Growing up playing baseball in Fair Lawn, you're always reminded about them and how you should represent your town," Lehman said. "We always tried to be like those guys."

Lehman is two steps away from being just like them.