Patrick Corbin Bio
Patrick Alan Corbin is an American professional baseball pitcher born on July 19, 1989, in Clay, New York. He currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) and has built his career on the strength of his left arm, a sharp breaking slider, and the durability that has carried him through more than a decade in the major leagues. Over the years, Corbin has pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays, earning two All-Star selections along the way. His most celebrated moment came in 2019, when he helped the Washington Nationals capture their first World Series title.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Alan Corbin was born on July 19, 1989, in Clay, New York, a small community near Syracuse. He is the son of Dan Sr., who worked as a driver for a sausage company, and Patty, a nurse at a rehabilitation center for the elderly. Growing up, Corbin was a multisport athlete who enjoyed basketball above all else, playing in the Catholic Youth Organization and Pop Warner football. He rooted for the New York Yankees as a young baseball fan and gradually developed into a talented pitcher on the local diamond.
Corbin attended Cicero–North Syracuse High School, where he did not pitch for the baseball team until his junior year. That late start did not stop him from putting together an impressive senior campaign, going 8–0 with 76 strikeouts in 47 innings, helping the team earn the top ranking in New York State. He was named to the All-League team and first-team All-Central New York, finishing his high school career with a 14–0 record and 139 strikeouts. Corbin also set a school record for three-point field goals in a single basketball game and earned All-Section honors in that sport.
Path to Baseball
After high school, Corbin’s grades were not strong enough for a four-year college, so he enrolled at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York, where he played both baseball and basketball. Scouts tried to sign him as an undrafted free agent, but his coach urged patience, and Corbin returned for another year before transferring to Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. There he focused exclusively on baseball, added 15 to 20 pounds of muscle, and posted a 5–2 record with an 86-strikeout season for the Chipola Indians. He committed to the University of Southern Mississippi before the 2009 MLB Draft changed the trajectory of his career.
Patrick Corbin Career
Draft and Minor Leagues (2009–2011)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Corbin in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft, with the 80th overall pick, making him the first junior college player chosen that year. He signed for a $450,000 bonus and began his professional career with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, where he initially struggled with his strikeout-heavy approach. After adjusting his style, he split 2010 between the Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, compiling a 3.87 ERA across both levels. At the trade deadline, Corbin was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the package for Dan Haren, where he set a Mobile BayBears franchise record with 27 and one-third consecutive scoreless innings in 2011.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2012–2018)
Corbin made his MLB debut on April 30, 2012, against the Miami Marlins, earning the win with five and two-thirds innings of three-run ball. After stints in the minor leagues, he returned to the Diamondbacks’ rotation and finished his rookie season with a 6–8 record. The following year, Corbin was named an All-Star after an 11–1 start and finished with a 3.41 ERA, the eighth youngest player to earn that honor. In 2014, however, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, underwent Tommy John surgery, and missed the entire season.
Corbin returned in 2015 and won six decisions, but the 2016 campaign saw him demoted to the bullpen after a 4–12 start. He regained his rotation spot in 2017, posting a 4.03 ERA across 189 and two-thirds innings, though the Diamondbacks were eliminated in the NLDS before he could pitch. In 2018, Corbin was named an All-Star for the second time and threw seven and two-thirds hitless innings against the San Francisco Giants, finishing the year 11–7 with a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts. He became a free agent after the season.
Washington Nationals (2019–2024)
On December 7, 2018, the Washington Nationals signed Corbin to a six-year, $140 million contract. In his first season, he went 14–7 with a 3.25 ERA and 238 strikeouts, but his postseason role defined his legacy. Corbin pitched out of the bullpen in Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros, started Game 4, and then delivered three scoreless innings in Game 7 to earn the win, helping the Nationals capture their first championship. He also won the 2019 Warren Spahn Award that year.
The years that followed were far more difficult. Corbin went 2–7 in the shortened 2020 season and posted a 5.82 ERA in 2021, leading the National League in losses. His struggles continued through 2022 and 2023, though he reached double-digit wins again in 2023 with a 5.20 ERA. On August 22, 2024, Corbin recorded his 100th career win against the Colorado Rockies, finishing his Nationals tenure with 6–13 record and a 5.62 ERA in 32 starts.
Texas Rangers Era (2025)
On March 18, 2025, Corbin signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers worth $1.1 million in guaranteed money. After missing most of spring training, he was optioned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express to build arm strength, then recalled on April 4 when Jack Leiter went on the injured list. Corbin made 31 appearances and 30 starts for Texas, going 7–11 with a 4.40 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 155 and one-third innings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Corbin stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds, throwing from the left side with a four-seam and sinking fastball that averages 92 miles per hour. His slider, long considered his best pitch, has drawn praise from veteran hitters like Todd Helton, while his changeup and knuckle curve have helped him navigate different lineups. He added a cutter in 2024 to combat right-handed hitters and is known for generating swings and misses despite throwing a low percentage of pitches in the strike zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Corbin’s career came in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, when he bridged the middle innings with three scoreless frames to seal the Nationals’ first title. He also threw seven and two-thirds hitless innings against the Giants in 2018, recorded his 100th career win in 2024, and ranks among the most durable starters of his generation with nearly 2,000 career strikeouts.
Patrick Corbin Career Wins
Patrick Corbin has accumulated 112 career wins across his MLB seasons, with 1,907 strikeouts and a 4.51 earned run average. His 100th victory came on August 22, 2024, while pitching for the Washington Nationals.
MLB Highlights
Corbin reached the 10-win mark in each of his best seasons, including 14 wins during his 2019 championship year and 11 victories in 2018. He has earned two All-Star selections and a World Series ring, cementing his place among the notable left-handed starters of his era.
Other Wins and Performances
Corbin’s development years included strong showings in the minors, particularly a Mobile BayBears franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings in 2011. His 2010 performance across Class A and Advanced-A also helped him earn top-prospect recognition within the Angels organization before his trade to Arizona.
Patrick Corbin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Corbin is the son of Dan Sr. and Patty Corbin. He married his high school classmate Jen in November 2018, and the couple has two sons. The family lives in Phoenix, Arizona, during the offseason, and the Corbins made a six-figure donation to the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy during their time in Washington.
Personal Life
Patrick Corbin has been known for his humility, with former teammate Paul Goldschmidt describing him as grounded despite his success. He was close friends with the late Tyler Skaggs, who was a groomsman in his wedding. Corbin has also stayed connected to his Central New York roots, occasionally officiating youth basketball games during the offseason.
2025 Season Performance
Corbin’s 2025 season with the Texas Rangers began with a brief Triple-A assignment to Round Rock before he was recalled in early April. Working as a back-end starter, he delivered 30 starts and 155 and one-third innings, finishing 7–11 with a 4.40 ERA and 131 strikeouts. His ground-ball tendencies and slider-heavy approach provided value to a Rangers rotation looking for innings eaters.
Despite the losing record, Corbin’s durability remained a strength, as he absorbed a heavy workload while keeping the team in games. The Rangers leaned on his veteran presence to stabilize their staff through stretches of injury and inconsistency. The one-year deal also gave Texas flexibility heading into the next offseason.
Looking ahead, Corbin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in April 2026, indicating that he intends to continue pitching. His career totals of 112 wins and 1,907 strikeouts reflect the longevity of a left-hander who has remained a reliable presence in MLB rotations. Whether as a starter or mentor in a clubhouse, Patrick Alan Corbin continues to be a respected figure in professional baseball.
