[Official] SSG Landers finally replaces its No. 1 starter, acquiring Thomas Hatch, who had previously had his contract terminated with Doosan... White waiver filing

*This content was translated by AI.

With its starting rotation in disarray, SSG Landers has finally moved to replace its No. 1 starter.

On the 6th, SSG Landers signed foreign pitcher Thomas Hatch (32) for a total of $590,000 (approximately 920 million won).

As Mitch White's injury prolonged and the team began to falter, SSG Landers ultimately made the decision.

Hatch, originally from Oklahoma, USA, joined the Chicago Cubs through the 2016 MLB Draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020.

Since then, Hatch has appeared in 51 career MLB games, posting a 6-5 record with a 5.24 ERA over 103 innings, and has consistently served as a starting resource, recording 103 games (68 starts) and 385.2 innings in Triple-A minor league play.

Additionally, in 2024, he experienced Asian baseball with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and this season, he made 11 starts for Triple-A under the Arizona Diamondbacks, compiling a 2-0 record, a 4.01 ERA, 51⅔ innings, 34 strikeouts, and a 1.14 WHIP.

Hatch stands 185 cm tall and weighs 88 kg. He possesses the ability to consistently maintain a fastball in the 150th km/h range through the middle and late innings, thanks to his stable mechanics and consistent release point this season. He is also evaluated as a starting resource with a high degree of polish in various breaking balls, seasoned game management skills, and extensive experience against batters.

Hatch signed a $1 million contract with Doosan last year, but the deal was terminated after issues were discovered during the medical test.

However, it was ultimately determined that there were no physical issues. He drew SSG's attention by appearing in 30 games and pitching 125⅔ innings across the MLB and minor leagues during the 2025 season. After thoroughly reviewing his consistent in-game appearances, including 11 games and 51⅔ innings this season, the team concluded that he possesses the highest competitiveness as an immediate-ready starting pitcher.

Having completed the contract, Thomas Hatch stated, "I am delighted to embark on a new challenge with SSG Landers. I will adapt to the team as quickly as possible, contribute to the starting rotation, and do my best in every game to help the team achieve the results it desires."

Meanwhile, on the 6th, SSG Landers requested a waiver filing for foreign pitcher Mitch White from the KBO. The team also terminated its contract with Koji Hiramoto.

White had a standout season with SSG last year, appearing in 24 games, pitching 134⅔ innings, and posting an 11-4 record with a 2.87 ERA. After re-signing and remaining with the team, White took on the role of No. 1 starter this season but appeared in only six games before being sidelined by an injury, recording a 1-1 record and a 4.11 ERA. The team utilized temporary replacement pitchers while waiting for White's return, but as the team began to slide, they ultimately decided they could no longer afford to wait and opted to replace the foreign pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.