Incheon: The SSG Landers announced Saturday they have signed former major league pitcher Thomas Hatch. In a series of roster adjustments, the team waived injured starter Mitch White and terminated their agreement with temporary replacement Ginjiro Hiramoto.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Landers revealed that Hatch will be compensated with US$590,000 for the remainder of this season. Hatch, 31, has a notable history in Major League Baseball (MLB), having been drafted in the third round by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and making his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. He shared the field with White in 2022, as well as with current Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) pitchers Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles and Jeremy Beasley of the Lotte Giants.
Hatch's baseball journey includes stints with three other MLB teams, his last appearance being in 2025 with the Minnesota Twins. Earlier this year, in Triple-A for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hatch achieved a 2-0 record with a 4.01 ERA over 11 starts, striking out 34 batters against 10 walks in 51 2/3 innings.
In 2024, Hatch ventured to Japan and subsequently signed with another KBO team, the Doosan Bears, in November 2024. However, the deal was canceled the following month due to a failed physical.
Mitch White, a Korean American pitcher, recorded a 1-1 record with a 4.11 ERA in six starts this year, marking his second season in the KBO, before succumbing to a rotator cuff injury. Meanwhile, Hiramoto's performance as White's replacement was underwhelming, with a 0-3 record and a 9.56 ERA in four starts, leading to his demotion to the minor league last Friday.
Prior to Saturday's games, the Landers were positioned at the bottom of the KBO standings with a 5.39 ERA, having allowed the most home runs at 62 and the most walks at 274 across 57 games.