Pittsburgh Pirates Reliever Thomas Hatch Reportedly Headed Overseas to Pitch in Japan

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Thomas Hatch is headed overseas, Korean news source IS Plus reported Thursday.

Hatch is set to sign a $1.8 million contract with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was reportedly being pursued by multiple KBO clubs in South Korea as well, but elected to head to Japan instead.

The Pirates locked Hatch onto their 40-man roster earlier this month, which means his move frees up a spot for the franchise as the offseason progresses. Pittsburgh picked Hatch up off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in August.

Hatch went 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.343 WHIP and 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 12 games during his limited time in Pittsburgh. When he was in Toronto from 2020 to 2023, Hatch went 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA, 1.650 WIHP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 appearances.

Of his 59 career MLB appearances, nine were starts.

Across his extended time in the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs' farm systems, Hatch went 33-45 with a 4.18 ERA, 1.297 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. 118 of his 153 career appearances in the minors were starts.

Hatch was unlikely to hold down a major or consistent role for the Pirates in the big leagues in 2024, but the front office liked him enough to protect the veteran hurler from the Rule 5 Draft. Pittsburgh already waived, non-tendered or allowed a few depth relievers hit free agency earlier this fall – including Yerry De Los Santos, Hunter Stratton and Chase De Jong – and now Hatch is on his way out as well.