Dominic Hamel Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

IP	7.2
ERA	8.22
WHIP	1.7
BB/9	9.39
SO/9	15.26

Full name Dominic Avery Hamel
Born 03/02/1999 in Chandler, AZ
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 206 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Dallas Baptist
Drafted in the 3rd round (81st overall) by the New York Mets in 2021 (signed for $755,300).

View Draft Report

Hamel was draft-eligible last year, but after two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and just four starts (two good and two poor) for Dallas Baptist, teams decided they didn’t have enough to pick him in a five-round draft. There will be no such concerns this year. Hamel was Dallas Baptist’s ace in 2021, ranking among the nation’s top 10 in strikeouts (129) and top 20 in strikeout rate (13.4 K/9). He reached double digits in strikeouts in six of his first 15 starts in 2021. Hamel has shown the consistent ability to elevate his plus 90-94 mph fastball for swings and misses. It has the vertical movement that frustrates hitters, although he could still improve his command of it. Right now when hitters do catch up to it, they have done damage—all 14 of his home runs allowed came on his fastball. He spins an average low-80s slider with modest depth and some sweep, but it shows the potential to sharpen into an above-average pitch. It’s currently effective when he works it on the edge of the strike zone. He also throws a below-average changeup. Hamel’s steadily improving consistency, feel for spin and track record of success make for an alluring combination. Hamel has a good build (6-foot-2, 206 pounds), fast arm and gets good extension in his delivery. His fastball/slider combination presents options both as a starter and power reliever.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/Medium

Track Record: Hamel ranked ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts in 2021 as a fourth-year player for Dallas Baptist, prompting the Mets to draft him in the third round. He won organization pitcher of the year honors in 2022 as he climbed to High-A Brooklyn, then spent the entire 2023 season with Double-A Binghamton. Hamel topped the Mets system with 160 strikeouts, 124 innings and a 21.1 K-BB%.

Scouting Report: Hamel threw his fastball 57% of the time in 2023 and got results despite ordinary 93-mph velocity. He delivers the ball from a low attack angle and imparts plus vertical ride on the pitch to miss bats up in the zone. He throws a ton of strikes and tops near 95 mph. Hamel throws four other average or near-average pitches. He modified his slider to more of a low-80s sweeper, while also adding a cutter to work glove side to lefthanded hitters. His mid-80s changeup has become a trusted weapon that helps him limit platoon damage. His high-70s curveball has enough depth to generate chases and steal strikes. Hamel needs to throw his secondaries for strikes more consistently, but he holds his velocity, misses bats and holds baserunners well.

The Future: Hamel’s pitching style would have been a poor fit for the tight automated ball-strike system at Triple-A, which might have factored in him spending all of 2023 at Double-A. He will advance to Syracuse in 2024 and hope the ABS system has been refined. If he pitches well, he could see big league innings as a swingman or spot starter. Ultimately he fits toward the back of a rotation.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Hamel returned to Dallas Baptist for a fourth collegiate season when he went undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft. His fortune improved in 2021 after he ranked ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts and was drafted 81st overall. Hamel earned Mets organization pitcher of the year honors in 2022, when he pitched his way to High-A Brooklyn and led the system with 10 wins, 145 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP.

Scouting Report: Hamel pitches with a modern fastball. He releases the ball from a low attack angle with plus riding life. He throws a high rate of strikes with his low-90s four-seamer that topped at 95 mph and drew a high rate of swinging strikes from Class A hitters. He holds his velocity deep into starts and is mindful of baserunners, who attempted just eight stolen bases in 2022. Hamel's low-80s slider grades as above-average based on its tight spin, and he commands the pitch to both sides of the plate. He also throws a curveball that has shape but lacks power. Hamel has developed his changeup into a usable third pitch, which helped him push his strikeout rate from 26% in the first half to 33% in the second.

The Future: Hamel will be 24 as he embarks on his first season in the upper minors. With continued health and performance, he is an MLB debut candidate in 2023 or 2024. Unless he finds more velocity, he probably fits best as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
Track Record: Hamel spent two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC before transferring to Dallas Baptist in 2020—just in time for the pandemic to interfere with his draft year. He made just four starts and went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft. After ranking ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts in 2021 he went inside the top 100 picks. Hamel looked sharp in brief pro debut.

Scouting Report: The Mets like Hamel’s pitch attributes and believe he has the potential to advance quickly, especially if he can round out his repertoire. His fastball had some of the best characteristics in the 2021 draft. Hamel ranges from 91-94 mph and bumps 95 with extreme spin and vertical break. The pitch bores to his arm side. Hamel’s slider shows above-average to plus potential and is thrown in the low 80s with high spin. He also throws a fringe curveball in the mid 70s and has a below-average changeup. Both could be improved to keep lefthanded hitters off his fastball. Hamel throws plenty of strikes and stays over the mound well with a repeatable delivery.

The Future: The next step for Hamel is either adding a few ticks to his fastball or bringing up the quality of his secondary pitches. Even without those improvements, he profiles as a future major league pitcher because his fastball and pitchability are assets.

Draft Prospects

Hamel was draft-eligible last year, but after two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and just four starts (two good and two poor) for Dallas Baptist, teams decided they didn’t have enough to pick him in a five-round draft. There will be no such concerns this year. Hamel was Dallas Baptist’s ace in 2021, ranking among the nation’s top 10 in strikeouts (129) and top 20 in strikeout rate (13.4 K/9). He reached double digits in strikeouts in six of his first 15 starts in 2021. Hamel has shown the consistent ability to elevate his plus 90-94 mph fastball for swings and misses. It has the vertical movement that frustrates hitters, although he could still improve his command of it. Right now when hitters do catch up to it, they have done damage—all 14 of his home runs allowed came on his fastball. He spins an average low-80s slider with modest depth and some sweep, but it shows the potential to sharpen into an above-average pitch. It’s currently effective when he works it on the edge of the strike zone. He also throws a below-average changeup. Hamel’s steadily improving consistency, feel for spin and track record of success make for an alluring combination. Hamel has a good build (6-foot-2, 206 pounds), fast arm and gets good extension in his delivery. His fastball/slider combination presents options both as a starter and power reliever.
After two productive seasons at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, Hamel had two excellent starts and two poor starts for Dallas Baptist before the season ended. He dominated North Carolina, allowing one hit while striking out 10 in seven scoreless innings while carrying a no-hitter into the eighth, but Oral Roberts knocked him out in the third inning of his final start of the abbreviated season. He can miss bats with his above-average, high-spin 91-94 mph fastball. His curveball and slider are consistent, but he has the potential to eventually spin an above-average breaking ball. Hamel is going to be an interesting scouting challenge—he doesn’t have much Division I experience and there will be scouts who saw him good and others who came away underwhelmed.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Hamel returned to Dallas Baptist for a fourth collegiate season when he went undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft. His fortune improved in 2021 after he ranked ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts and was drafted 81st overall. Hamel earned Mets organization pitcher of the year honors in 2022, when he pitched his way to High-A Brooklyn and led the system with 10 wins, 145 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP.

Scouting Report: Hamel pitches with a modern fastball. He releases the ball from a low attack angle with plus riding life. He throws a high rate of strikes with his low-90s four-seamer that topped at 95 mph and drew a high rate of swinging strikes from Class A hitters. He holds his velocity deep into starts and is mindful of baserunners, who attempted just eight stolen bases in 2022. Hamel's low-80s slider grades as above-average based on its tight spin, and he commands the pitch to both sides of the plate. He also throws a curveball that has shape but lacks power. Hamel has developed his changeup into a usable third pitch, which helped him push his strikeout rate from 26% in the first half to 33% in the second.

The Future: Hamel will be 24 as he embarks on his first season in the upper minors. With continued health and performance, he is an MLB debut candidate in 2023 or 2024. Unless he finds more velocity, he probably fits best as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Hamel returned to Dallas Baptist for a fourth collegiate season when he went undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft. His fortune improved in 2021 after he ranked ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts and was drafted 81st overall. Hamel earned Mets organization pitcher of the year honors in 2022, when he pitched his way to High-A Brooklyn and led the system with 10 wins, 145 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP.

Scouting Report: Hamel pitches with a modern fastball. He releases the ball from a low attack angle with plus riding life. He throws a high rate of strikes with his low-90s four-seamer that topped at 95 mph and drew a high rate of swinging strikes from Class A hitters. He holds his velocity deep into starts and is mindful of baserunners, who attempted just eight stolen bases in 2022. Hamel's low-80s slider grades as above-average based on its tight spin, and he commands the pitch to both sides of the plate. He also throws a curveball that has shape but lacks power. Hamel has developed his changeup into a usable third pitch, which helped him push his strikeout rate from 26% in the first half to 33% in the second.

The Future: Hamel will be 24 as he embarks on his first season in the upper minors. With continued health and performance, he is an MLB debut candidate in 2023 or 2024. Unless he finds more velocity, he probably fits best as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Hamel spent two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC before transferring to Dallas Baptist in 2020—just in time for the pandemic to interfere with his draft year. He made just four starts and went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft. After ranking ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts in 2021 he went inside the top 100 picks. Hamel looked sharp in brief pro debut.

Scouting Report: The Mets like Hamel&#39s pitch attributes and believe he has the potential to advance quickly, especially if he can round out his repertoire. His fastball had some of the best characteristics in the 2021 draft. Hamel ranges from 91-94 mph and bumps 95 with extreme spin and vertical break. The pitch bores to his arm side. Hamel&#39s slider shows above-average to plus potential and is thrown in the low 80s with high spin. He also throws a fringe curveball in the mid 70s and has a below-average changeup. Both could be improved to keep lefthanded hitters off his fastball. Hamel throws plenty of strikes and stays over the mound well with a repeatable delivery.

The Future: The next step for Hamel is either adding a few ticks to his fastball or bringing up the quality of his secondary pitches. Even without those improvements, he profiles as a future major league pitcher because his fastball and pitchability are assets.
Track Record: Hamel spent two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC before transferring to Dallas Baptist in 2020—just in time for the pandemic to interfere with his draft year. He made just four starts and went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft. After ranking ninth in Division I with 136 strikeouts in 2021 he went inside the top 100 picks. Hamel looked sharp in brief pro debut.

Scouting Report: The Mets like Hamel’s pitch attributes and believe he has the potential to advance quickly, especially if he can round out his repertoire. His fastball had some of the best characteristics in the 2021 draft. Hamel ranges from 91-94 mph and bumps 95 with extreme spin and vertical break. The pitch bores to his arm side. Hamel’s slider shows above-average to plus potential and is thrown in the low 80s with high spin. He also throws a fringe curveball in the mid 70s and has a below-average changeup. Both could be improved to keep lefthanded hitters off his fastball. Hamel throws plenty of strikes and stays over the mound well with a repeatable delivery.

The Future: The next step for Hamel is either adding a few ticks to his fastball or bringing up the quality of his secondary pitches. Even without those improvements, he profiles as a future major league pitcher because his fastball and pitchability are assets.
Hamel was draft-eligible last year, but after two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and just four starts (two good and two poor) for Dallas Baptist, teams decided they didn't have enough to pick him in a five-round draft. There will be no such concerns this year. Hamel was Dallas Baptist's ace in 2021, ranking among the nation's top 10 in strikeouts (129) and top 20 in strikeout rate (13.4 K/9). He reached double digits in strikeouts in six of his first 15 starts in 2021. Hamel has shown the consistent ability to elevate his plus 90-94 mph fastball for swings and misses. It has the vertical movement that frustrates hitters, although he could still improve his command of it. Right now when hitters do catch up to it, they have done damage—all 14 of his home runs allowed came on his fastball. He spins an average low-80s slider with modest depth and some sweep, but it shows the potential to sharpen into an above-average pitch. It's currently effective when he works it on the edge of the strike zone. He also throws a below-average changeup. Hamel's steadily improving consistency, feel for spin and track record of success make for an alluring combination. Hamel has a good build (6-foot-2, 206 pounds), fast arm and gets good extension in his delivery. His fastball/slider combination presents options both as a starter and power reliever.