Dom Hamel getting Mets chance that was ‘long time coming’ after two changes
Dom Hamel has pitched in more than 100 games and logged more than 400 innings with various Mets affiliates since getting drafted out of Dallas Baptist in the third round in 2021.
He stepped into Citi Field on Monday knowing his next inning would be his largest.
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The Mets called up the righty, who had developed as a starting pitcher until transitioning into a lengthy arm in the bullpen this year, while optioning righty Austin Warren back to Triple-A Syracuse.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Hamel, who was the club’s No. 9 prospect in both 2022 and ’23 before struggles at Syracuse last year stalled his rise.
The righty started this season in the Syracuse rotation before he found better results as a two- or three-inning reliever. He owned a 4.12 ERA in his past 10 games and 19 ⅔ innings at Syracuse, a stretch in which he struck out 22 and walked one, which prompted the call that he has wanted for four years.
“Really I’m just trying not to leave them a choice,” Hamel said before the series opener against the Guardians. “I don’t want to go back. I’m up here. I’m thinking I’m up here for a reason. So I’m just going to do my thing and let it ride.”
The bullpen transition has helped him rise — as has an offseason delivery tweak. Inspired by the Yankees’ Luke Weaver and the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hamel ditched his full windup and now operates out of the stretch with a slide step.
Weaver’s career took off when he made the switch. Informed earlier this year about the slide-step gospel spreading, Weaver was flattered and appreciative.
“It’s just about trying to find what is going to get you to an elite level and the confidence in trying — that is the most I take out of this,” Weaver said. “Hey, I was in the same boat [as Hamel]. I’ve tried every possible thing to try. Sometimes it just doesn’t really click or work. But the whole theme is to never stop trying. You never know when you’ll stumble across something that will change your life.”
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