Q: Everybody calls you Hatch. Does anyone call you Justin anymore?
A: No. If someone says Justin, I don’t even answer. If you’re my true friend, it’s Hatch.
Q: You grew up in Texas, went to Texas Christian University. How Texas are you?
A: I was born and raised in Fort Worth, love doing the rodeos and the stock show there in Fort Worth. Love Texas country music. Love being outdoors, fishing, hunting. I wear the boots, the belt, all that stuff.
Q: So then what was it like to be drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2003?
A: I grew up 20 minutes from the ballpark in Arlington, so it was definitely just a dream come true. Obviously that’s the first step of getting to where you want to be, and at that point I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to get to the big leagues. You just think you’re drafted by the Rangers, I’ll go play in the minor leagues for a couple years and then be in the big leagues.
Q: You played in the minors from 2003-2007, although you didn’t see any big-league time.
A: The ultimate goal is to get to the big-league level, where you can be in the spotlight but also provide for your family the way that you’d like to and all that stuff that goes along with it. So not making it was a bit of a disappointment, but here I am now.
Q: How does one get to be a bullpen catcher?
A: For me, I was in big league camp in 2007 as a player, and I got to meet Buddy Black, Darren Balsley, Darrell Akerfelds and all these guys. I went and played in 2007 in Double-A, Triple-A, and then that offseason, the old Padres bullpen catcher the year before wasn’t going to come back, so Buddy called me in the offseason and offered me a job on the staff if I wanted to quit my career. I still had some opportunities to keep playing, but I just figured my ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues and I didn’t know if I would as a player, but I knew I could be here now as the bullpen catcher and helping out the coaching staff.
Q: How long did it take you to make that decision, and how tough was it?
A: It was tough. It took me about a month, but then it was like, I had just gotten married not too long before that and in the minor leagues, never knowing where you’re going to be or what you’re going to be doing, there was just no consistency with that. I knew taking the job that I definitely had a job, and I knew where I would be, and I had all the stuff that goes along with a full-time job.
Q: You’re suiting up with the players, you’re traveling with the team. You’re very much a part of this world. That’s cool, right?
A: That’s the main thing I like about baseball. Just being with the guys, helping them out, being there every day, and that’s what I get to do now full-time. It’s not like a job to me. My office is Petco Park. It’s awesome.
Q: What’s your daily
routine like?
A: For me, I get here early enough where I work out. Then if any of the rehab pitchers need to throw, I’ll do that. Usually catch a bullpen or two. Then, come batting practice time, all the guys will come out and catch some flat ground (tosses), I’ll play some catch with the guys, then I’ll usually throw batting practice. Maybe not every day, but at least every other day. Then shower, eat, get ready for the game. Go out and play catch with Hundo (Nick Hundley) before he gets ready to catch.
Q: How many pitches do you catch daily?
A: I would say hundreds. I don’t know exactly. But for every ball I catch, I have to throw, so it’s a lot of throwing, too.
Q: You recently had Luke Yoder, director of field maintenance for the Padres, paint the number “48” in the grass in the bullpen. Why?
A: It represents Darrel Akerfelds, who has been the bullpen coach here for 10, 11 years, and is my mentor and my best friend. He is like a father figure to me. I just thought it would be appropriate for all the guys that come up there to realize that he’s there with us on a daily basis, and he’s at home watching us every day on TV. So that’s there until he gets healthy and gets back with us. Then we’ll take it down.
