Lefty reliever Joe Thatcher has retired after spending parts of nine seasons in the majors, Pedro Velazco of the Kokomo Tribune reports.
Thatcher, 35, pitched for the Padres, Diamondbacks, Angels, and Astros while also spending time in the Brewers’, Dodgers’, and Cubs’ minor league systems. He started his career in the independent league with the River City Rascals before the Brewers signed him in the summer of 2005.
Thatcher had a good sense of humor about his retirement, saying, “Yeah, I’m not Derek Jeter or Big Papi [David Ortiz] so there wasn’t a farewell tour or anything. I’ve decided to retire. It’s hard to say still and it hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’m a former big leaguer, but I’m happy with it, I’m comfortable with it.”