AT NOTRE DAME: Rated by Baseball America as the No. 29 overall freshman and No. 15 rookie pitcher entering the 2012 season ... one of two BIG EAST freshmen listed, joining RHP Nick Burdi of Louisville ... tough, hard-nosed competitor that has been on winning teams throughout his athletic career ... talented addition who could develop into future leader and anchor of the Irish staff ... has physical ability to be dominant pitcher on the college level, with classic bulldog mentality ... one of the hardest throwers on the team who can spot his explosive fastball with movement on both sides of the plate ... could fill role of starter or long reliever in `12 ... rated as the No. 4 MLB prospect in the BIG EAST by Perfect Game ... rated as the second-best freshman in the BIG EAST by Baseball America.
PREP & PERSONAL: Drafted in the 38th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft by San Diego Padres as a senior out of St. John's Prep in Danvers, Mass. ... ranked the 33rd-best overall prospect nationally by Perfect Game ... ranked the 167th-best overall prospect nationally by ProspectWire.com ... posted an 11-2 record with a 1.75 earned-run average and 160 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched ... also played third base ... batted .400 with a .750 slugging percentage as a senior ... widely considered a top-five round pick by many MLB scouts entering the 2011 draft ... collected a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and two walks in a 5-0 victory over the Spy Ponders, 5-0 (did not allow a ball to leave the infield) ... earned all-state honors in baseball during his senior season in addition to being a three-time all-conference performer ... 2010 Massachusetts Coaches' Division I North Most Valuable Player ... at the Massachusetts state championship, struck out 14 and surrendered three hits in 12.0 innings pitched and posted a 0.00 ERA ... named MVP of the 2008 Eastern Massachusetts Babe Ruth Tournament and led the New England Lightning to the silver medal at the AAU National Championships ... four-year letterwinner at St. John's Prep, where he is the all-time leading scorer (1,713 points) ... played under the guidance of head coach Sean Connolly ... averaged 23 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists during his high school career ... team captured the state title during his senior season ... 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Massachusetts ... 2011 ESPN Mr. Basketball for Massachusetts ... ranked 73rd nationally by Scout.com and 100th by ESPNU ... two-time all-state selection and three-time all-conference pick, including being named the conference's MVP as a junior and senior ... three-time team captain ... copped team MVP honors during his final three seasons ... two-time conference champion ... squad posted a 46-4 record during his junior and senior seasons ... only junior selected to the Boston Globe Super Team and the Boston Herald High Dream Team ... selected as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Catholic Conference and was named to the Catholic Conference All-Star Team ... also selected as his team's MVP and served as team captain ... helped lead his team to a 3-0 record at the 2010 AAU National Showcase in Orlando, Fla. ... averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds per game at the 2010 AAU Nationals ... lettered in football as a quarterback during his freshman and sophomore seasons ... born Jan. 6, 1993 ... full name is Patrick Bergin Connaughton ... son of Leonard and Susan Connaughton ... father played football at Framingham State College ... uncle, Richard, played baseball at Springfield College ... enrolled in Notre Dame's First Year of Studies program.
