Mets Minors Top Prospects: No. 14 Dominic Hamel
No. 14 Dominic Hamel, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 25 (3/2/1999)
Height: 6’2, Weight: 237 lbs
Acquired: 3rd round of 2021 Draft from Dallas Baptist University
Previous Rank:
2023 Stats (AA Binghamton): 25 GS, 124 IP, 3.85 ERA, 160 SO, 49 BB, 1.266 WHIP, 11.6 K/9
Dominic Hamel is an intriguing arm with extremely strong strikeout stuff. He put himself on the map during his 2021 season at Dallas Baptist University, striking out 136 batters across 91 2/3 innings on the mound. That performance led to him being drafted by the Mets in the 3rd round of that year’s draft, and he has risen up the ranks of the Mets’ farm system in the years since.
Last season, he was an integral part of a loaded Binghamton rotation that pitched the Rumble Ponies to a championship series appearance. Hamel made 25 starts, racking up a whopping 160 strikeouts in 124 innings on the mound. He does not have elite velocity on his fastball, but he features a devastating slider that helps generate a ton of swings and misses.
Hamel’s biggest issue throughout his career has been his command. His walk rate has been extremely high since his college career, and it has led to him having to work out of trouble on the basepaths more often than he would like. He’s issued 113 walks in 259 professional innings, and he will need to cut down on that number significantly in order to be as impactful at the next level.
Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
2024 Outlook
Hamel is off to a subpar start to the 2024 season with Syracuse. He has a 6.23 ERA in his first three Triple-A starts, striking out 19 batters in 13 innings. However, he has also issued 10 walks and allowed nine earned runs, including three home runs. He surrendered 12 homers last season and just five the year prior, so that rate will likely regress as he gains better command of pitching at the Triple-A level.
One big thing going for Hamel is his health. Since joining the Mets organization, he has not missed significant time due to injury, making 51 appearances and 49 starts across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Mets are likely to experience injuries in their major league rotation at some point this year, and having an arm like Hamel waiting in the wings could prove very useful.
Hamel turned 25 years old right before the season started, and he could very well see his first taste of major league action this season. If that happens, his excellent strikeout stuff could be a great fit on a Mets staff that has already impressed early on this season with making batters miss.
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