Mattingly: Patterson's been on big league radar

MINNEAPOLIS -- Manager Don Mattingly said the selection of Red Patterson to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Twins was "pretty easy, really."

Patterson, added for the day as the 26th man, had to be put on the 40-man roster, resulting in outfielder Nick Buss being designated for assignment to make room. The Dodgers opted not to promote Stephen Fife or Matt Magill -- both of whom are already on the 40-man roster and have Major League experience -- because both have been struggling at Triple-A Albuquerque.

"He's gotten on our radar over the past year," Mattingly said of Patterson. "He's competitive, a strike thrower. With this club [Minnesota], if you don't throw strikes, you're going to have a long day. We feel he'll challenge the strike zone and be the best guy."

Patterson, a 29th-round pick in 2010, signed for a $1,500 bonus after not being drafted out of high school. His first name is John; he got his nickname from a youth basketball coach because of his hair color and the fact there were other Johns on the team.

Undrafted out of high school, the 26-year-old right-hander was the No. 2 starter for Grayson (Texas) Community College behind Jordan Walden. Patterson committed to the University of Oklahoma then backed off, instead redshirting one year before playing the next year at the University of Texas-San Antonio. He then followed a girlfriend to Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he pitched as a senior.

Patterson pitched last winter in Venezuela. In his previous four offseasons, he worked as a salesman at the Coach store in the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, Texas, selling luxury handbags, shoes and accessories.