Thomas Hatch Signs with Doosan Bears: Former MLB Pitcher’s Journey from NPB to KBO

Thomas Hatch dating during his MLB days in Toronto. Getty Images

Right-handed pitcher Thomas Hatch (30) wears a Doosan Bears uniform.

As a result of this paper’s coverage, the countdown to the news of Hatch’s departure for Doosan has begun. After failing to renew his contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team on the 8th, interest focused on Hatch’s future. The possibility of trying again in NPB and entering the KBO league was expected in various ways, but Doosan was his last choice. Doosan, who agreed to an early contract, completed detailed recruitment procedures, including internal reporting.

Hatch took his first steps into Asian football by signing for Hiroshima last December. He was such a popular subject in the foreign player market that he was said to have been contacted by 3 to 4 domestic clubs at the time. However, it was a ‘piece of cake’. The KBO League limits the total number of new foreign player contracts to a maximum of $1 million (KRW 1.4 billion), including annual salary, incentives, transfer fees, and signing bonuses, and was worth Hatch higher than that.

Thomas Hatch during his MLB days in Pittsburgh. Getty Images

In fact, Hatch was promised at least $1.3 million (KRW 1.8 billion) from the Hiroshima club, including a contract deposit of $450,000 and an annual salary of $850,000. The result was failure. Due to poor performance (3 losses in 5 games, 7.36 ERA), the relationship ended after one season. His fiery personality also played a part. Last August and September, he was fined 50,000 yen (450,000 won) and 100,000 yen (900,000 won) respectively for protesting referee decisions in games in the second team (Western League).

Doosan overestimated Hatch’s chances of a comeback. Hatch mixes fastballs up to about 97 miles per hour (156.1 km/h) with changeups and cutting fastballs. His 4-year career record in Major League Baseball (MLB) is 4 wins, 4 losses, and an average ERA of 4.96 in 39 games (6 starts). In the minor leagues, he recorded a career record (6 years) of 33 wins, 45 losses, and an average ERA of 4.18. Last winter, along with Tyler Biddy (formerly Yomiuri Giants) and Cody Ponce (Nippon Ham Fighters), he was considered one of the ‘NPB Big 3’ in which KBO League scouts were interested. It was also taken into account when recruiting the number of foreign players who landed softly in the KBO league after failing to adapt to NPB.

The 2024 KBO League professional football match between Kiwoom Heroes and Doosan Bears was held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the afternoon of the 10th. Balazovic gives a pep talk to the infield after Kim Hye-seong, who was on first base without a hit in the bottom of the first inning, was ruled a double play. Gocheok = Reporter Kim Min-gyu [email protected] /2024.09.10/

Meanwhile, Doosan announced the contract of left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin on the 15th. By choosing Hatch as his partner, Jordan Balazovic and Brandon Waddell, who were foreign pitchers on the last day of this season, were all included.

Reporter Bae Jung-hyeon [email protected]