Joe Thatcher

Thatcher was a member of Kokomo High School's baseball and basketball teams for four years; he was an all-region basketball player.{{cite news|last=Center|first=Bill|title=LHP Thatcher made shrewd decision in choosing baseball|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Mar/23/thatcher-shrewdly-chose-baseball-over-basketball/|access-date=31 July 2013|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=March 23, 2013}} He was a freshman on the 1997 team that played in Indiana's final true state tournament and set a school record for 3-pointers in a game as a senior in 2000.

Thatcher pitched for four seasons with Indiana State University. In 2003, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=January 9, 2020}} He served as the Sycamores' closer in 2004, his final year with the team.{{cite web|title=Joe Thatcher Traded To San Diego Padres, Set To Join Major League Club|url=http://www.gosycamores.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15200&ATCLID=1138644|publisher=Indiana State Sycamores|access-date=31 July 2013|date=July 26, 2007}}

Thatcher was not drafted upon graduating college, he signed with the River City Rascals of the independent Frontier League, appearing in 47 games (6-5 W/L, 10 Saves) in 2004 and 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=thatch001jos|title = Joe Thatcher Independent, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History}}

Thatcher was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent in 2005 and assigned to the Rookie League Helena Brewers.

Thatcher had progressed to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in 2007 when he was traded to the San Diego Padres, along with prospects Will Inman and Steve Garrison, for relief pitcher Scott Linebrink. Thatcher was immediately placed in the bullpen of the Padres big league club.{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=David|title=Former Indiana State pitcher Joe Thatcher gets ultimate call|url=http://tribstar.com/sports/x1155702697/Former-Indiana-State-pitcher-Joe-Thatcher-gets-ultimate-call|access-date=31 July 2013|newspaper=Tribune-Star|date=July 27, 2007}}

Thatcher made his Major League debut with the Padres on July 26, {{mlby|2007}}, in Houston against the Astros. He appeared in 22 games in 2007, finishing with a 2–2 record and 1.29 ERA. He also appeared in 8 games with the Triple-A Portland Beavers.

Thatcher began {{mlby|2008}} with the San Diego Padres, but was sent down to Portland in mid-May after posting a 6.75 ERA in 16 appearances. He made nine more appearances with the big league club in 2008, the final one on July 23. He finished the year with a 0–4 record and 8.42 ERA in San Diego. With Portland, he posted a 2.77 ERA over 39 total innings.

Following spring training in {{mlby|2009}}, Thatcher started the season in Portland but was called up to San Diego on May 15, 2009. Aside from five days in June and two weeks in mid-July, he remained with the Major League club through the remainder of the year. He finished 2009 with a 2.80 ERA in 45 innings across 52 games, and 55 strike-outs against 18 walks.

Thatcher had shoulder soreness in spring training in {{mlby|2010}} and started the season on the disabled list, but he rejoined the team in mid-April. Thatcher emerged as one of the top left-handed specialists in the National League.{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Corey|title=Thatcher slated for left shoulder surgery|url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110427&content_id=18328630&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd|work=MLB.com|access-date=31 July 2013|date=April 27, 2011}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He posted a 1.29 ERA in 35 innings and 65 games, with 45 strike-outs and 7 walks. He held batters to a .185 batting average and .465 OPS.

Thatcher's shoulder again gave him trouble in spring training of {{mlby|2011}}, and he again began the season on the disabled list. But the shoulder did not respond to treatment and he was forced to undergo surgery in May. The surgery cleaned up the labrum and the rotator cuff, and Thatcher rejoined the team in August after a rehab stint.{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Corey|title=Thatcher hoping shoulder woes behind him|url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120220&content_id=26767908¬ebook_id=26768792&vkey=notebook_sd&c_id=sd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229024741/http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120220&content_id=26767908¬ebook_id=26768792&vkey=notebook_sd&c_id=sd|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 29, 2012|work=MLB.com|access-date=31 July 2013|date=February 20, 2012}} He finished with a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings over 18 games.

In {{mlby|2012}}, Thatcher returned to his role as left-handed specialist. He initially pitched through a nagging knee soreness that eventually forced him to rest the knee throughout August and then required arthroscopic to repair a tendon after the season.{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Corey|title=Thatcher comfortable taking it slow in spring|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130312&content_id=42658628&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd|work=MLB.com|access-date=31 July 2013|date=March 13, 2013}} Thatcher still put up a 3.41 ERA and 39 strike-outs in 31{{frac|2|3}} innings. From 2009 through 2012, Thatcher appeared in 190 games and held left-handers to a .182 average. Overall, he has a 2.66 ERA and .221 opponents batting average during that span.

Thatcher again began {{mlby|2013}} as the Padres' left-handed specialist, pitching to a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings over 50 games. At the end of July, the Padres traded Thatcher with Matt Stites and a compensatory draft pick to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ian Kennedy.{{cite news|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|title=Diamondbacks deal Ian Kennedy to Padres|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/07/31/ian-kennedy-trade-padres-diamondbacks/2603853/|access-date=April 13, 2014|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 31, 2013}} With the Diamondbacks in 2013, Thatcher allowed 7 earned runs in 9{{fraction|1|3}} innings across 22 games. In the off-season, Thatcher and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.{{cite web|title=D-backs avoid arbitration, agree to a one-year contract with Joe Thatcher for 2.38 million. |url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140117&content_id=66795490&vkey=pr_ari&c_id=ari|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122171510/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140117&content_id=66795490&vkey=pr_ari&c_id=ari|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2014|work=D-backs Press Release|publisher=MLB.com|access-date=April 13, 2014|date=January 17, 2014}}

On July 5, 2014, Thatcher was traded along with Tony Campana to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for prospects Zach Borenstein and Joey Krehbiel.{{cite news|title=Angels pick up Thatcher from Diamondbacks|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11178624|access-date=July 6, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=July 5, 2014}} He became a free agent following the season.

File:Joe Thatcher Astros followthrough Houston April 2015.jpg

On February 13, 2015, Thatcher signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.{{cite news|title=Reliever Thatcher agrees to minor league deal with Astros|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=12322399|access-date=February 15, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=February 13, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=McTaggart|first1=Brian|title=Astros invite reliever Thatcher to Major League camp|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/109189630/astros-invite-reliever-joe-thatcher-to-major-league-camp|access-date=February 15, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=February 13, 2015|archive-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215050248/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/109189630/astros-invite-reliever-joe-thatcher-to-major-league-camp|url-status=dead}} On March 30, 2015, the Astros announced that Thatcher had made the Opening Day roster. On July 21, the Astros designated Thatcher for assignment after 36 appearances. He was released on July 28. On August 2, Thatcher was re–signed to a minor league deal.{{Cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/21/joe-thatcher-designated-for-assignment-by-the-astros/|title = Joe Thatcher designated for assignment by the Astros|date = 21 July 2015}} He was re–added to the major league roster on September 1.{{Cite web|title = Houston Astros Farm Report: Fresno Grizzlies are gearing up for a championship|url = http://climbingtalshill.com/2015/09/07/houston-astros-farm-report-fresno-grizzlies-are-gearing-up-for-a-championship/|website = Climbing Tal's Hill|date = 7 September 2015|access-date = 2015-09-17}} He became a free agent following the season.

On December 21, 2015, Thatcher signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/indians-to-sign-joe-thatcher.html|title=Indians To Sign Joe Thatcher|first=Zach|last=Links|work=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 17, 2015|access-date=December 21, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Indians add 2 lefties on Minor League deals|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/indians-sign-tom-gorzelanny-joe-thatcher/c-160141590|work=MLB.com|date=December 21, 2015|first=Jordan|last=Bastian}} He was released prior to the start of the season on March 27, 2016.{{Cite web|title=Indians Release Will Venable, Joe Thatcher|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/indians-release-will-venable-joe-thatcher.html|access-date=October 3, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 27, 2016 |language=en}}

On April 21, 2016, Thatcher signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scout.com/mlb/indians/story/1661761-storylines-tomlin-leaves-with-sore-hamstring|title=Storylines: Tomlin leaves with sore hamstring|website=Scout.com|access-date=2016-04-21}} In 17 games for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers, he logged a 3.60 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 15 innings. Thatcher was released on June 3, after exercising an opt–out clause in his contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/4/11859076/joe-thatcher-released-dodgers-minor-league-opt-out|title=Dodgers release Joe Thatcher from minors contract|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=June 4, 2016|access-date=June 5, 2016}}

On July 23, 2016, Thatcher signed a minor league contract to return to the Indians organization.{{cite news|last1=Hoynes|first1=Paul|title=Cleveland Indians working hard to stay cool, while handling summer heat|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2016/07/cleveland_indians_working_hard.html|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=July 23, 2016}} However, he did not make an appearance for the organization before he was released on August 13.{{Cite web|title=Indians Release Joe Thatcher|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/indians-release-joe-thatcher.html|access-date=October 3, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 14, 2016 |language=en}}

On August 15, 2016, Thatcher signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-joe-thatcher-signed-by-cubs/|title=Cubs' Joe Thatcher: Signed by Cubs|date=16 August 2016 |access-date=2016-09-03}} In 10 appearances for the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, he worked to a 6.14 ERA with 11 strikeouts across {{fraction|7|1|3}} innings pitched. Thatcher elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=August 2, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}} He retired from professional baseball shortly thereafter.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/thatcher-ends-baseball-career-with-no-regrets/article_5ee4e4de-a88b-11e6-877e-ef4b5840afb5.html|title = Thatcher ends baseball career with no regrets| date=12 November 2016 }}

In 2016, after retiring from professional baseball, Thatcher accepted a position as associate coach of the Indiana University Kokomo baseball team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iukcougars.com/coach/0/10.php|title=IU Kokomo - 2017 Baseball Coaches|website=www.iukcougars.com|access-date=2016-12-14|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220160825/http://www.iukcougars.com/coach/0/10.php|url-status=dead}}

On January 31, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates hired Thatcher to serve as the bullpen coach for their Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians.{{Cite web|title=Pirates announce minor league coaching staffs for 2025 staff|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/01/31/pirates-announce-minor-league-coaching-staff-2025-altoona-indianapolis-bradenton/stories/202501310060|access-date=February 3, 2025|website=post-gazette.com|language=en}}

Thatcher was unusual in that he threw only two pitches, neither of which was a four-seam fastball. He almost exclusively threw a cut fastball at 83–87 mph or a slider at 77–79. His slider was mainly a 2-strike pitch. Early in his career, he threw a changeup to right-handed hitters, but he threw only a small handful of those after the 2008 season.{{cite web|title=PITCHf/x Player Card: Joe Thatcher|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=491159|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=18 May 2012}}

During the offseason, Thatcher resides in Kokomo, Indiana and enjoys playing golf on his down time.{{Cite web|title = Thatcher Endowment to hold golf outing|url = http://kokomoperspective.com/local_sports/thatcher-endowment-to-hold-golf-outing/article_b718c24a-dc7e-11df-9966-001cc4c002e0.html|access-date = 2015-09-17}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He is the son of Phil and Sara Thatcher and his father also pitched for Indiana State University while his mother was a cheerleader.{{cite web| last=Geiselman| first=Steve| title=Major league drama| publisher=Kokomo Perspective| url=http://kokomoperspective.com/local_sports/major-league-drama/article_1e4122bd-6555-5683-800c-ba1b141dc4e5.html?mode=story| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140413022946/http://kokomoperspective.com/local_sports/major-league-drama/article_1e4122bd-6555-5683-800c-ba1b141dc4e5.html?mode=story| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 13, 2014| access-date=April 13, 2014| date=August 15, 2009}}

Thatcher's wife, Katie, is also a Kokomo native.{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Corey|title=Indiana will always be home for Thatcher|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121119&content_id=40357458&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd|work=MLB.com|access-date=31 July 2013|date=November 21, 2012}} The couple formed the Joe and Katie Thatcher Endowment Foundation in 2008 to benefit the Howard County, Indiana, community.{{cite web|last=Goad|first=Jenn|title=The Joe and Katie Thatcher Foundation gives back|url=http://kokomoperspective.com/kp/the-joe-and-katie-thatcher-foundation-gives-back/article_c4c901fa-aed7-11e3-8092-0019bb2963f4.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140413022924/http://kokomoperspective.com/kp/the-joe-and-katie-thatcher-foundation-gives-back/article_c4c901fa-aed7-11e3-8092-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2014|publisher=Kokomo Perspective|access-date=April 13, 2014|date=March 20, 2014}}

Thatcher is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ.{{cite news|last1=Beattie|first1=Trent|title=Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher Shares Father's Day Reflections|url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/arizona-diamondbacks-pitcher-shares-fathers-day-reflections/#ixzz34uTSoOKd|access-date=July 6, 2014|publisher=National Catholic Register|date=June 15, 2014|archive-date=July 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715043920/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/arizona-diamondbacks-pitcher-shares-fathers-day-reflections/#ixzz34uTSoOKd|url-status=dead}}

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