Patrick Forbes arrived at Louisville with every intention of making his mark as a hitter. A touted prep shortstop, he earned immediate playing time as a freshman, hitting .258 while logging just 9 1/3 innings on the mound.
But as his college career unfolded, the mound began calling louder. Now a junior, Forbes has embraced the shift, evolving into Louisville’s Friday night ace this season. He also is one of the fastest-rising arms in the 2025 MLB draft class, with the potential to go in the first round due to his skill set and potential.
“I had a decent amount of draft interest coming out of high school, but I really wanted to go to Louisville,” Forbes said. “It’s been great to develop in this program. I believe they are the best coaches in the country, and I’m able to be a part of it every day.”
Forbes is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a fastball, slider, changeup and cutter from a three-quarters arm slot. His fastball is an above-average pitch that he relies on frequently. It sits 96-99 mph and touches triple digits. He also has improved his command of his power fastball.
Forbes’ low-80s slider is his go-to secondary pitch that generates swings and misses. He has improved his confidence in the offering, which has led to improved consistency and results this spring. Forbes shows a good feel for his changeup and added a cutter in the offseason, a pitch that bridges the gap between his fastball and slider, offering late movement and swing-and-miss potential.
“My competitiveness is my biggest strength,” Forbes said. “Coach (McDonnell) preaches that a lot. He has us compete in everything we do in the program. It’s hard to come out of this program and not be a competitor.”
In his first year as a full-time pitcher, Forbes worked primarily out of the bullpen in 2024. He posted a 4.34 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 15 walks over 29 innings.
His focus this season has been on improving his command and proving he can handle a full-time role in the rotation. So far, he’s delivered. Forbes has sharpened his control, increased his strikeout rate and emerged as a reliable starter. Through 25 innings, he owns a 2.16 ERA with 45 strikeouts and seven walks.
“The main thing is just consistency,” Forbes said. “Sometimes in the past, I was maybe a little up one weekend and then down the next. I have just focused on being more consistent throughout the whole year.”
Louisville has become one of the nation’s most competitive programs under head coach Dan McDonnell, who’s now in his 19th season at the helm. After an uncharacteristic two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals believe they have the talent and depth to not only return to postseason play but also make a serious run to Omaha.
Through 20 games, they’re backing it up. Louisville has opened the season 17–3, including a statement series win over No. 6 North Carolina to kick off ACC play.
“This year, I really see a big change in culture,” Forbes said. “The leaders have definitely taken another step up. Our goal is to win the ACC and make it to Omaha. We are just focusing day by day and trying to win every single day. We don’t want to look too far in the future. I definitely see a change from the last two years.”
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
