I had a dream the other night, but I don’t think this one will come true.

My dream starred former Kansas City Royals All-Star second baseman Frank White, whom I’ve met several times and got to know fairly well when he was the manager for the former Wichita Wranglers in the Texas League. Also, in this dream was former Major League pinch-hitting specialist Wallace Johnson, whom I’ve known since his first year in minor league baseball when he played for the Jamestown Expos in 1979. I was the team’s bat boy at the time, and believe it or not, Johnson and I still stay in touch. I spoke with him on the phone just a few months ago.

But why were these two former Major League Baseball players in my dream, and why now? Like most dreams, I suppose I’ll never know.

I dreamt I was in a dugout at a ballpark, prior to a baseball game, talking to some of the players. Then I walked over to the manager, White, and coach, Johnson, to chat with them. It appeared this was a college or minor league baseball team, but I have no idea where. I don’t recall any of the players.

Johnson started telling White about me and said I would make a good coach.

White said, “I know Jeff, but didn’t know he had any interest in coaching.”

I said, “sure, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I used to coach a Little League team for many years, and I’ve worked in baseball all my life. It would be fun.”

With that, Johnson convinced White to offer me a job, and White said, “Okay, how would you like to be an assistant coach and coach first base?”

Well, I was excited and said, “Yes, can I start now?”

Then I woke up.

A DREAM COME TRUE

Another guy had a dream, not long ago, of playing professional baseball, and his dream came true last week.

Nathan Patterson played baseball in high school, but didn’t pursue the sport in college. Last summer, at the age of 22, Patterson started thinking seriously again about wanting to pursue a career in baseball.

Many people thought Patterson was chasing a pipe dream; how could he just pick up baseball again, after all this time, and expect to get noticed by scouts at his age and without having played in college?

Well, he did just that.

It all began last August, while attending a Nashville Sounds game, Patterson threw 96 mph at the radar gun – speed pitch booth. This made him start thinking he could possibly achieve his dream of playing pro baseball, so he began working out. However, his return took a slight detour when he was hit by a car and had wrist surgery, in December. It was his left wrist, but thankfully he throws right-handed. The Oakland Athletics, however, took notice of Patterson and began talking with him in February. They kept in touch with him, encouraging him to keep working out.

Then, just a few weeks ago, while attending a Rockies game at Coors Field, he did it again; he threw another 96 mph fast ball at the speed-pitch booth. In fact, of the six pitches he threw, five were 94 mph or higher. This time, with the aid of his brother’s video on social media, the A’s not only took notice, but called Patterson and last week signed him to a minor league contract.

“Words cannot describe this feeling and I cannot thank everyone enough who has been part of this journey so far,” Patterson wrote on Instagram. “My family has given me nothing but constant love and support throughout the last 9 months as I pursue a dream of mine that I’ve had since I was a little kid. It’s been a roller coaster to get here with many challenges and overcoming adversity. For those who tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams, use that as fuel to work even harder. Because those people are the ones that settle.”

My dream may not come true, but Patteson’s did, and it will be fun to see how far this one takes him.