The Chicago Cubs selected Hatch in the third round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Oklahoma State.
Due to a non-surgical treatment for an elbow injury, he missed the 2015 college season. Hatch made his professional debut with Chicago’s Class A-Advanced affiliate in 2017.
In 2018, he was promoted to AA and remained there for the 2019 season. Hatch’s minor league career is summarized in Table 1.
Hatch was ranked 12th, 31st, and 32nd among 41 AA pitchers (minimum 80 innings pitched) in terms of K percent -BB percent, ERA, and FIP in his return season to AA in 2019.
Hatch pitched 35 1/3 innings for Toronto’s minor league affiliate in New Hampshire.
He only gave up two walks and had a 25.0 percent K-BB percent, 2.80 ERA, and 3.43 FIP. Those K% -BB%, ERA, and FIP numbers would have ranked #1, #12, and #15, respectively, among the 41 pitchers mentioned.
Yes, a sample size of less than 36 innings is short, but Hatch’s outcomes with the increased change-up use are promising. In 2020, he will most likely attend AAA.
Hatch was a dependable pitcher from 2017 to 2019, averaging 134 innings per season. With a score of 134, he would have finished fifth among 2019 AA-starters.
Hatch is projected to be a potential MLB pitcher, either as a swing/spot starter or a middle reliever.
At the Major League Baseball level, pitching depth is important, and Hatch appears to be a depth candidate right now.
How Tall Is Thomas Hatch?
Thomas Hatch’s height is 1.85 m