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Field of Dreams: Griffons shortstop Hatch signs with Rockies affiliate
L.J. Hatch is one step closer to realizing his Major League dreams. Hatch, the Nevada Griffons starting shortstop for the past five weeks by way of New Mexico State University, has signed a contract with the Boise Hawks, a minor league (A-Ball) affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
Hatch said he received a phone call on Sunday morning from the Rockies area scout, who had been in contact with him prior to the MLB draft in mid-June.
“He told me there might be an opportunity opening up,” Hatch told the Daily Mail. “He asked if I had been playing (since the conclusion of the college season) and if I was ready to go.”
After enduring major disappointment on draft week, Hatch said he was skeptical the phone call would amount to anything. He had previously been in contact with several organizations leading up to the draft.
“I thought it was one of those deals where they would put me on a list and I’d be waiting for a while,” he said. “Then I called my head coach at New Mexico State. He knew the scouting director for the Rockies, and called him and talked to him about me.”
Then, a few hours before Sunday evening’s clash with the St. Joseph Mustangs, Hatch received a call from the Rockies scouting director. That’s when Hatch was relayed the news he had long been hoping for.
“He told me they’re going to offer me a contract and fly me out to (Boise) on Tuesday,” recounted an emotional Hatch.
Hatch didn’t cite the specific details of his freshly minted contract, but did say it was a multi-year deal.
“Which is good,” added Hatch, “but there’s not a bonus or anything.”
MLB Draft
After beginning his collegiate career at Johnson County (Kan.) Community College four years ago, Hatch transferred to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he had two highly productive seasons for the Aggies.
“My first year (with New Mexico State) we won 34 games,” said Hatch. “And that was the biggest turnaround in college baseball that year.”
After wrapping up his college career, Hatch felt he had shown enough on the field to get drafted, as plenty of teams had inquired about him.
“I had gotten calls the day before the draft, just making sure that I was signable,” recalled Hatch. “And then I received more calls after the first day of the draft.”
Hatch noted that he fielded calls from the Rockies, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels.
The three-day draft, however, came and went with Hatch’s name still on the board.
“Everybody was expecting me to go on the second or third day of the draft,” said Hatch. “It was hard on me and I know my parents weren’t thrilled.”
In 30 games with the Griffons, Hatch, a MINK League All-Star selection, batted .367 (47-for-128) with three home runs, 25 RBIs, 26 runs scored, nine doubles, and 11 stolen bases.
“It’s always good to see guys sign, especially graduated guys who come in and play for us,” said Griffons manager Ryan Mansfield.
“We’ve only had one or two graduated guys since I’ve been here that haven’t been signed. And I was so frustrated and bitter about those guys, because I thought they should have been signed.”
Mansfield said Hatch was a major reason his club was able to turn things around after opening the season on a 10-game losing skid. The Griffons not only needed Hatch’s bat in the lineup, but were in desperate need of filling their gaping hole at shortstop after starter Devin Morrill departed the team early.
Mansfield, a coach at Longview Community College in K.C., said he was familiar with Hatch, having coached against him for two years when Hatch was at JCCC.
“The guy definitely has a feel for the game,” said Mansfield. “There’s certain things that baseball people look at: positioning, knowing when to throw to the back-side at third; just all the small things, and he’s pretty good at those.”
Hatch said he has thoroughly enjoyed his experience with the Griffons.
“It’s been fun,” he said. “Just getting to know the guys and help out any way I can. And it’s also helped me stay in shape.”
The 5-foot-11, 180 pound Hatch, said his focus going forward is to bulk up.
“I need to put on some weight and get a little faster,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
Hatch continued: “I think at the next level, guys will have more than one pitch they can throw for a strike at any time. That will be an adjustment, because Division I and here you don’t see very many guys commanding two or three pitches at a time.”
Hatch, a graduate of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, said he and his family celebrated the big news by dining at Sombrero’s Mexican Cantina in Shawnee.
“L.J. is a class act,” said Griffons outfielder Marco Young. “He’s a guy that will help you out if you need anything, and he doesn’t act like he’s bigger than anybody else. It’s been a pleasure playing with him. I think the sky is the limit for L.J.”