MACK – Let’s Revisit - RP - Dan Hammer

 

MACK – Let’s Revisit - RP - Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer is a 28-year-old right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization (born September 10, 1997, in Philadelphia, PA; 6'2", 210 lbs; bats/throws right). 

He is currently with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets after a brief stint as a “phantom ballplayer” (on the MLB roster for a day without appearing in a game).

en.wikipedia.org

Background and Career Path

• Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round (378th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.
• Spent most of his career in the Orioles system (reaching Double-A Bowie), then was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the minor-league phase of the 2024/2025 Rule 5 Draft and pitched for Double-A Montgomery in 2025.
• Signed a minor-league deal (reportedly two years) with the Mets in March 2026 as a free agent.
  mlb.com
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2026 performance -  AA/AAA: 42-G, 2-ST, 6-2, 3.58, 50.1-IP, 35-BB, 58-K

mlb.com

Pitch RepertoireHammer’s arsenal features good velocity and a standout cutter, but command has long been the limiting factor. Key elements include:

• Four-seam fastball: Sits 95–96 mph, touches upper 90s (up to 97–97.5 mph reported in showcases and notes). Primary pitch; provides the foundation for his stuff.
  mlbtraderumors.com
• Cutter: Around 90 mph. Highly regarded—described by Mets interim manager Andy Green as “real” and a “plus Major League pitch.” It’s a key weapon that generates swings and misses and weak contact.
  mlb.com
• Other pitches: Mixes in a slider and/or curveball/slurve (occasionally noted), and has added a two-seamer/sinker and a sweeper (reported as a new addition ahead of 2026). Earlier in his career he also featured a changeup. A 2026 minor-league game tracking showed four-seam, cutter, and slurve usage.
  mlbtraderumors.com

Overall profile: High-velocity, bat-missing arm (above-average miss rates) who works primarily as a reliever. Success at higher levels depends on improving strike-throwing and attacking the zone, as the pure stuff is considered major-league caliber when located. He has drawn comparisons to typical “toolsy but raw” bullpen arms the Mets and other teams often develop.As of late August 2026 he is still pitching in Triple-A for Syracuse and has not yet made an official MLB appearance.