Although his performance drew attention from MLB scouts, Hale chose to honor his commitment to play college baseball for Princeton University.

Hale spent several seasons in the Braves' farm system, alternating between the starting rotation and the bullpen before making his major league debut in September 2013.

Hale was designated for assignment in April 2016 and spent the remainder of the year playing for the Baltimore Orioles' Triple-A affiliate.

Throughout 2017 and 2018, Hale signed a series of minor-league contracts and made brief major league appearances with the Yankees and Twins.

Primarily an infielder, Hale committed to play college baseball at Princeton University before his senior year.

[4] Hale made his college debut in a season-opening doubleheader against Elon University, recording three hits and one run batted in (RBI) in an extra innings 8–7 loss.

[6] As a pitcher, Hale finished his freshman season with a 3–2 win–loss record and a 4.71 earned run average (ERA) in 42 innings pitched.

[7] The following year, Hale started his season with a win, allowing three runs and striking out six batters in 3+2⁄3 innings in a 6–4 victory over the University of Delaware on March 2, 2008.

[16] Hale finished his junior season with a 2–3 record, a 4.43 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in 40+2⁄3 innings pitched, as well as a .284 average, including 29 hits, one home run, and 12 RBI, in 102 at bats.

After posting a 4–3 record and a 4.36 ERA in his first 12 starts, Hale was named to the South Division All-Star Team on June 11, 2012, replacing pitcher Donnie Joseph after the latter was recalled to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.

The only previous times that two Princeton alumni had faced each other in an MLB game were two instances in which Venable batted against Ross Ohlendorf.

[28] He made a postseason appearance in the third game of the 2013 National League Division Series (NLDS), pitching in relief during the Braves' 2–1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[30] Going into the 2014 season, Hale was named the Braves' fourth starter in a five-man rotation also including Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Aaron Harang, and Ervin Santana.

[32] Hale made two more starting appearances later in the season, first in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 28, and then in the Braves' home finale against the Pirates on September 25.

[30] On January 30, 2015, the Braves traded Hale and fellow right-handed pitcher Gus Schlosser to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league catchers Jose Briceno and Chris O'Dowd.

[43] Hale signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization prior to the 2017 season but was released in March.

[47] OI January 29, 2018, Hale signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, and was assigned to begin the season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

[48] After three starts for the RailRiders, in which he posted a 5.52 ERA in 14+2⁄3 innings of work, the Yankees selected Hale's contract and promoted him to the major leagues as a long reliever on April 22.

[53] Hale again re-signed with the Yankees the next day and was promoted to the major league roster on July 1 after spending June with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

[54] On July 13, 2018, the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) signed Hale to a US$500,000 deal for the remainder of the season.

[55] He told reporters after the season that he was nervous about joining a KBO team because of the lifestyle changes that living abroad would require, as well as his inexperience with the Korean language, but that he was aided in the transition by having two American teammates, Keyvius Sampson and Jared Hoying.

[48] Just before spring training began in 2019, on February 1, Hale signed another minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization.

[58] After defeating the Twins to advance to the 2019 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the Yankees designated Hale for assignment when Aaron Hicks and CC Sabathia were added to the postseason roster.

[59] On February 3, 2020, Hale was one of 14 players signed to a minor-league contract by the Yankees with an invitation to spring training in Tampa, Florida.

[64] He spent the remainder of the shortened season with the Phillies, recording a 4.09 ERA in six appearances and striking out seven batters in 11 innings of work.

[65] Going into the 2021 season, Hale was expected to serve as a long reliever alongside veteran Vince Velasquez, due to concerns that starters Matt Moore and Chase Anderson would not regularly be able to pitch more than five innings.

[66] When Velasquez was scratched 30 minutes prior to the Phillies' May 20 match against the Miami Marlins, Hale was called upon to start the game.

[67] Hale pitched in the first three innings of the bullpen game, giving up a solo home run to Miguel Rojas before he was replaced by Moore.