Mets’ Dominic Hamel Turns In Healthy, Promising Season

Righthander Dominic Hamel’s nature, as much as his stuff, played into the 23-year-old receiving recognition as the Mets’ minor league pitcher of the year.

The 2021 third-rounder from Dallas Baptist split the season between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn. In 25 appearances (24 starts) he went 10-3 with a 3.25 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 119 innings.

“The biggest thing that I will say that stands out about him is he’s a winner,” Mets farm director Kevin Howard said. “He is ultra-competitive. I think some players when the light shines bright, they can get better or worse and he’s one where it’s the better he gets.

“He’s not shy in the spotlight, and that is what you want from guys for a big market like New York is guys who want that attention. They want the crowd to watch. They want the games to mean something, and I think he’s that guy.”

The Chandler, Ariz., native has impressed the Mets with the high spin rate on his fastball, curveball and slider. His ability locate in and away to batters and ride his fastball to the top of the strike zone has caught the eye of evaluators.

Hamel is among the organization’s top pitching prospects, in a group that includes Blade Tidwell, Calvin Ziegler, Matt Allan, Mike Vasil and Joel Diaz, all of whom were positioned below Double-A this season. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Hamel’s best work came after his promotion to Brooklyn, where he owned a 2.59 ERA in 11 starts.

“He threw over 100 innings, which is what you want out of your prospects,” Howard said. “He stayed relatively healthy. (For) small stuff here and there he had to sit down, but we were happy with his health.”

The offseason will be one of mostly rest for Hamel, given his workload this year. 

“A lot of the guys who we send to the Arizona Fall League missed a significant amount of time, didn’t even get close to that 100 innings mark,” Howard said. “Guys who threw over 100 innings like him, we’re asking those guys to get stronger, do their throwing programs and get ready for spring training.”