
Joe Thatcher Traded to Padres, Becomes Third 2006 HWB Alum to Reach Majors
July 25, 2007 - Hawaii Winter Baseball 2 (HWB 2) News Release
Joe Thatcher, a member of the North Shore Honu during the 2006 Hawaii Winter Baseball campaign, was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers organization to the San Diego Padres today. The 25-year-old relief pitcher will join San Diego for its series with the Astros in Houston tomorrow, and Thatcher was told he will see action as a reliever right away if the situation calls for it.
"It feels great, it's one of those things that hasn't really sunk in yet," said Thatcher, the third HWB alumnus to break into the majors this year. "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 shipped to San Diego 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 which 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.
Hawaii Winter Baseball 2 Stories from July 25, 2007
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