Kansas City Royals sign former Blue Jays pitcher

Hatch has struggled to find consistency since making his Major League debut with the Blue Jays in 2020.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs, Hatch was traded to the Blue Jays in 2019 for reliever David Phelps and was added to the 40-man roster at the end of that season.

In his first year in the bigs, he performed well, going 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA in 17 games, including his first Major League start.

However, Hatch suffered right elbow inflammation early in the 2021 campaign and never fully recovered. He appeared in only three games that year, followed by a rough start in 2022, in which he gave up 10 runs in four innings.

After showing slight improvement with the Blue Jays in 2023, Hatch was ultimately DFA'd by the club and later claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh.

Hatch spent the 2024 season with the Hiroshima Tokyo Carp of the NPB, finishing with a 0-3 record and a 7.46 ERA. His contract was not renewed after the season.

Before signing with the Royals, Hatch had an agreement in place with the Doosan Bears in Korea, but the contract was voided due to concerns over his physical condition.

With the Royals' rotation already set, Hatch is more likely to be used out of the bullpen if he makes the team. He could also start the year in the minors as he works to rebuild his confidence.