News
Joe Thatcher Makes Padres Debut
Kyle Galdeira
07/26/07
Joe Thatcher, a member of the North Shore Honu during the 2006 Hawaii Winter Baseball campaign, made his first big league appearance today with the San Diego Padres in a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros.
The 25-year-old relief pitcher joined San Diego for its series with the Astros at Houston’s Minute Maid Park a day after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Thatcher, the third 2006 HWB alumnus to break into the majors this year, threw one inning of perfect relief and struck out the first batter he faced in Morgan Ensberg.
“It feels great; it’s one of those things that hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Thatcher. “I got to tell my parents and do all that. It’s been great.”
Thatcher, along with Brewers’ prospects Will Inman and Steve Garrison, were traded to San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for veteran set-up man Scott Linebrink. Milwaukee will utilize Linebrink’s talents to bolster an already solid bullpen, while the Padres get three solid prospects in return.
As a member of Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, Thatcher appeared in 24 games. The southpaw tossed 21.2 innings of relief, surrendering 19 hits and amassing 33 strikeouts to go along with a 2.08 ERA.
In his time with the Honu, Thatcher compiled a 1-1 record with one save through 24.2 innings of relief in which he baffled opposing hitters who managed a mere .189 average against him. The undrafted free agent out of Indiana State struck out 27 hitters compared to five walks, and finished his HWB campaign with a miniscule 0.73 ERA.
