Justin Hatcher

Who is Justin Hatcher?

Justin Michael Hatcher is a current bullpen catcher for the San Diego Padres wearing #80. He played professionally from 2003 to 2007.

Prior to playing professionally, Hatcher attended Brewer High School and then Eastfield College and Texas Christian University. With TCU in 2002, he hit .260 in 127 at-bats and in 2003 he hit .333 in 192 at-bats with them. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2003 amateur draft.

Hatcher began his professional career in 2003 with the AZL Rangers, hitting .268 in 97 at-bats. He split the 2004 season between the Clinton Lumber Kings and Oklahoma RedHawks. With the former he hit .289 and with the latter he hit .333. In 2005, he played for the Bakersfield Blaze, hitting .270 in 311 at-bats.

He played for four teams in 2006: the independent Fort Worth Cats, the Blaze, the RedHawks and the Mobile Bay Bears in the Padres organization. He hit .429 in 14 at-bats with the Cats, .228 in 101 at-bats with the Blaze, .143 in 14 at-bats with the RedHawks and .167 in 12 at-bats with the Bay Bears.

2007 was Hatcher's final professional season. He played for the Lake Elsinore Storm, San Antonio Missions and Portland Beavers, hitting .231, .100 and .204 with them, respectively. He became a bullpen catcher for the Padres in 2008.