Skip to main content

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #24 RHP J.D. Hammer

By
Hammer, image- MiLB.com
Acquired as part of the return from Colorado in last summer’s Pat Neshek trade, right-handed pitcher J.D. Hammer has stood out as a promising prospect that could prove valuable in the near future for the Phillies. 
 
Originally a 24th round draft pick on the Rockies in 2016, Hammer made his professional debut that year in the Rookie level Pioneer League for Grand Junction.  In 27 relief outings there, the Marshall product posted a 0-2 record with three saves, a 3.92 ERA while striking out 52 batters and walking 11 in 43 2/3 innings.
 
Following the 2016 season, Hammer, who had previously dealt with vision challenges and struggled with reading signals from his catchers, had an examination and was prescribed glasses, according to reports.  In a short amount of time, the new frames have become what Hammer is known for and have helped him excel. 
 
Last year, Hammer pitched at multiple levels during the regular season.  Opening the season in the Class A Sally League with Asheville, Hammer dominated, posting a 4-1 record with seven saves, a 1.20 ERA while striking out 47 batters and walking only five in 30 innings of work.  He was promoted in June to Class A Advanced Lancaster.  As a member of the JetHawks’ bullpen, the six-foot-three 215-pounder posted a 0-1 record with six saves and a 5.25 ERA. 
 
Following the trade to the Phillies, Hammer was assigned to Class A Advanced Clearwater.  He was a stud for the Threshers bullpen, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.57 ERA while striking out 20 and walking two in 12 games (15 2/3 innings).
 
This off-season Hammer pitched in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  In 10 appearances for Glendale, he notched a 0.66 ERA with no decisions, three saves and a .093 batting average against.  

Hammer features a fastball that usually sits around 96 MPH and can touch higher.  He also offers a solid breaking pitch, a slider/curve hybrid with nice movement, and can pound the strike zone.   

Primarily a third baseman and shortstop in high school, Hammer didn't take the mound until he was in junior college.  The transition clearly worked well, as he's gotten pretty far as a hurler and couldn't muster much offense even at the JuCo level.
 
The 23-year-old will be among the crop of minor leaguers invited to big league spring training this year as a non-roster player.  If he impresses in Grapefruit League play the same as he did in the Fall League, Hammer could be on the fast track to a spot in the big leagues.


Keep track of this year's Phillies prospect countdown at this link.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jealous Ones Envy

By
Joe Blanton continues to excel and prove his worth in the Phillies pitching rotation. In his latest outing on Sunday, Blanton threw 8 strong innings, striking out 6, while walking just 1 and surrendering 2 earned runs, improving his record to 7-4. This season in July, Joe is 3-0 over four starts with 22 K's, 5 walks and a 1.21 ERA. Over his last 6 starts, Joe's ERA is 1.94. As a member of the Phillies, Blanton has a 3.84 ERA after the all star break with a 5-0 record. The Phillies are 20-12 (.625 winning percentage) in games that Blanton has started, since being acquired last July. Combined this season against other National League playoff contenders St. Louis, Chicago and Los Angeles, Blanton has a combined 1.67 ERA in 4 starts with a 2-0 record. Blanton is on such a sizzling run that the Bowling Green Hot Rods, a Tampa Bay Rays farm team, will host a Joe Blanton bobble head give away tomorrow. Bowling Green will host Joe's mother, father and sister for the event, as Joe...
7 comments
Read more

Heroes- Fight of the Century

By
VS. It's a big day for your boy, Jay Ballz . No work, X-Men Origins: Wolverine premieres, our Phillies face the Metropolitans for the first time this season and tailgating for BOTH doesn't sound all that absurd to me. Anyway, I surveyed some qualified phans and got several opinions on how exactly a fight might go down if the mutant hero Wolverine faced off against Phillies hero Matt Stairs. Well known blogger, Chris, of I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake , kept it real and said the following- "Wolverine has adamantium ( indestructible metal substance) claws, so that's a great advantage. Stairs' Wonder Bat is neutralized there. See, the problem becomes Wolverine's ability to recover (he has a regenerative power) faster. Stairs is merely human. Sure, he has a goatee, and goatees are great, but they're great for saving sauce, not for defeating mutants. I think Wolverine takes it in a fight to the death in about 15 minutes because Stairs simply doesn'...
7 comments
Read more

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 71

By
Gene Kelly was the radio voice of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1950- 1959. Born in Brooklyn NY, Kelly pitched in the minor leagues after graduating from Marshall College in 1941. He would soon experience arm trouble, which ended his playing days. Kelly managed to continue a career in sports by turning to radio. When legendary announcer By Saam, who pulled double duty beginning in 1939 calling both Phillies and Athletics games, moved over to the A's side exclusively, Gene Kelly was the man who would fill the void and took over as the Phillies play-by-play man. The Phillies began broadcasting their games over the air in 1936, but until the 1950's, the broadcasters only attended home games and did not travel with the team. All road games were recreated, on the air, by the announcers who read a Western Union teletype account of the games from the studio in Philadelphia. During the decade of the 50's, Kelly was partnered with several different broadcasters, including Claude Ha...
5 comments
Read more