The New York Mets may have already handled the bulk of their offseason business, but they’re still making under-the-radar moves to bolster organizational depth.
On Sunday, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that the Mets signed right-hander Dan Hammer to a two-year minor league contract. And yes for a pitcher who can touch 97 mph, “Hammer” feels almost too perfect.
Who is Dan Hammer?
Hammer is a 28-year-old, 6-foot-2 righty from Philadelphia. He was selected in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of Pittsburgh.
While he has yet to crack the major leagues and hasn’t advanced beyond Double-A the raw tools are intriguing. In 2025, Hammer pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays organization at Double-A Montgomery, making 31 appearances. The results were rough on the surface, as he posted a 6.57 ERA. His career minor league ERA sits at 5.34.
But ERA doesn’t tell the whole story.
Big arm, bigger question mark
The reason Hammer continues to get opportunities is simple: he misses bats. Over his minor league career, he has averaged an impressive 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. That kind of swing-and-miss ability, paired with a fastball that can reach 97 mph, gives him a foundation that pitching development staffs love to work with.
The issue is command.
Hammer has walked 7.5 batters per nine innings across his minor league career an extremely high rate that has limited his ability to climb the ladder. When nearly a batter per inning reaches via walk, it’s difficult to trust that arm in high-leverage situations, regardless of velocity.
For the Mets, the signing is a classic low-risk, high-upside play. If their pitching development group can refine Hammer’s mechanics, improve his strike-throwing consistency, and help him harness his velocity without sacrificing movement, there’s legitimate bullpen potential here. Power arms with bat-missing stuff don’t grow on trees.
And if it doesn’t work out? A minor league deal carries minimal financial risk.
In other words, the Mets are taking a calculated gamble on a pitcher with a blazing fastball, eye-popping strikeout numbers — and a name built for the back of a baseball card.
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