Blue Jays: Should Tom Hatch be kept as a starter or moved to the bullpen?

Drafted in the third round of the 2016 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs, Thomas Hatch was acquired by the Blue Jays at the 2019 trade deadline in exchange for veteran reliever David Phelps.

Spending the rest of the season in AA, Hatch made his major league debut last year out of the Blue Jays bullpen, appearing in 17 games and throwing to a 2.73 ERA with eight earned runs, 13 walks, and 23 strikeouts through 26.1 innings pitched. He would finish the season with one start and a 1.177 WHIP.

To begin the 2021 campaign, the right-handed pitcher would be placed on the 10-day injured list (IL) before being moved to the 60-day IL a few weeks later. He began his rehab assignment with the Buffalo Bisons back on May 20th and the organization currently has him stretched out as a starter, appearing in four contests so far and throwing to a 1.74 ERA through 10.1 innings with two walks and nine strikeouts. His longest appearance this season is 3.1 innings after missing so much time on the injured list.

Thomas Hatch is currently rehabbing in AAA with the Buffalo Bisons as he recovers from an elbow injury. He is being used as a starter but could be moved to the bullpen to help the Blue Jays struggling pitching corps.

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With the Jays’ struggling to find consistency and quality innings from the bullpen, it does not appear that Ross Atkins and the front office will be trading for any relief pitchers any time soon. Considering how the roster is struggling to win games and blowing leads in the later innings, the team may have to find some additional arms from within the system.

Enter Thomas Hatch.

The Oklahoma native was primarily used as a starter both with the Cubs and the Blue Jays as he was working his way through the farm system, being moved to the bullpen when he was brought up to the big leagues last season. He found some success when he was a relief pitcher last season but is pitching well from as a starter during his rehab assignment so far this year in AAA. For his minor league career, Hatch boasts a 3.93 ERA with 379 strikeouts and 83 starts to his credit.

Moving him to the bullpen now may be a short-term solution that could help the Blue Jays at the major league level considering how the relief corps has been struggling. Depending on how the Jays will choose to have him develop long-term, having Hatch become a relief pitcher now and possibly converting him back to a starter next year would help the team push for a postseason spot this season.

Hatch pitched on Thursday for the Buffalo Bisons and the Blue Jays would have to move someone from the 40-man roster in order to bring Hatch back to the major league roster considering he is still on the 60-day IL.