Chris Hatcher Must Step Up In Jansen’s Absence

By Bobby DeMuro
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Updated: March 2, 2015

When the Dodgers traded Dee Gordon to Miami this winter, the headlines focused on Gordon, Dan Haren, and Andrew Heaney (who was later flipped to the Angels for Howie Kendrick). But one then-forgotten piece in the puzzle was catcher-turned-reliever Chris Hatcher.

Hatcher, 30, had 8 plate appearances with the Marlins in 2010 as a catcher, but failed to stick and was converted to a relief pitcher before 2011. When he debuted on the mound that season, he became the first person since 1935 to make the big leagues as a catcher, and then later, as a pitcher.

Hatcher has back-end-bullpen stuff, averaging 95.1 mph on his fastball last season to go along with an 87 mile per hour slider that he throws about 20% of the time. He’s also a strikeout artist, fanning 60 in 50 games/56 innings last year, while only walking 12 batters.

All that is important considering Kenley Jansen (who, by the way, is also a converted catcher) may now be out until mid-to-late May. The Dodgers bullpen, which took lots of criticism last year, is now without its most reliable option. Hatcher, along with others, must fill in for Jansen.

The Dodgers obviously wanted Hatcher in the Gordon trade for a reason, and after last year’s bullpen issues, Jansen’s injury, and Chris Withrow lost for the start of the year, Hatcher suddenly becomes a key piece of the relief corps.

Hatcher, after throwing a bullpen with the Dodgers [Image via @SportsNetLA]

While Joel Peralta will do what’s expected, Pedro Baez has a strong young arm, J.P. Howell should be fresh after fading last year, and Paco Rodriguez and Brandon League return, these guys aren’t stoppers. Newcomer Dustin McGowan could find himself throwing relief innings. Another newcomer, Juan Nicasio, has a great arm but is geared towards a middle relief role. Already a weak spot for the club, the bullpen is even thinner after Jansen’s injury.

Additionally, the last remaining free agents have been spoken for as camp begins. Francisco Rodriguez signed a deal with the Brewers, and Joba Chamberlain, who the Dodgers were following, returned to the Tigers. Rafael Soriano has closer experience and is still available, but he faded badly down the stretch in 2014 with the Nationals and lost the closer’s job. Besides him, there aren’t any difference-making free agents, and barring a trade, the Dodgers will go into the season with what they’ve got now.

That’s why it’s important for Hatcher to step up. Though he’s 30 years old, he only has 90 innings of big league wear on his arm, so he’d conceivably be relatively fresh all season. And, he’s got parts of four seasons of big league experience under his belt, so throwing him into the fire early shouldn’t overwhelm him like it might Baez or another younger pitcher.

Chris Hatcher doesn’t need an Eric Gagne streak; he just needs to be good enough to hold the line while Jansen recovers. If he (or someone) can do that, the Dodger relief corps won’t have dug a hole from which they can’t recover upon Jansen’s return.

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