Jason Hammel
From BR Bullpen
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 6", Weight 200 lb.
- School Treasure Valley Community College
- High School South Kitsap High School
- Debut April 11, 2006
- Born September 2, 1982 in Greenville, SC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Jason Hammel went 4-7 in his sophomore season at Treasure Valley Community College, with an ERA in the 5's, but was drafted in the 10th round of the 2002 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays due to his tremendous upside featuring a mid 90's fastball, and a solid 12-6 curveball. He had been drafted out of high school in the 2000 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners and also in the 2001 amateur draft by the Devil Rays. He was signed by scout Paul Kirsch and made his pro debut that summer. Hammel was a college teammate of Dutch national team pitcher Leon Boyd.
Hammel pitched in the major leagues with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays starting in 2006. He was crowded out of the Rays' pitching rotation when they suddenly became good in 2008, being the 6th starter behind Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson. As a result, he did not pitch in the 2008 Postseason during the Rays' run to the World Series, and after the season was sent to the Colorado Rockies in a trade. There he found a home, staking out a place in the starting rotation in 2009 and pitching well after the Rockies got off to a terrible start that cost long-time manager Clint Hurdle his job. He was 10-8, 4.33 in 34 games; he was the Game 3 starter for the Rockies in the NLDS, facing the Philadelphia Phillies, and ended up with a no-decision. In 2010, he went 10-9 with the Rockies, again making 30 starts, but his ERA shot up to 4.80. Both in 2009 and 2010, he had given up over 200 hits in just under 180 innings, although he compensated by giving up relatively few walks. His ERA improved to 4.76 in 2011, but his record fell to 7-12 as his strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction (he ended up with 94 Ks and 68 walks in 170 1/3 innings). Because of his lack of sharpness, he was moved to the bullpen in mid-August.
On February 6, 2012, Jason was traded to the Orioles along with Matt Lindstrom in return for Jeremy Guthrie. In his first start for his new team on April 8th, he was outstanding, keeping the Minnesota Twins hitless through 7 innings before giving up a run in the 8th. He was credited with the O's 3-1 win, completing a season-opening three-game sweep.
