Dominic Hamel, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
Despite a lot of stiff competition for this award, Dominic Hamel is Mets Minors’ 2022 Starting Pitcher of the Year.
A third-round selection in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft, Dominic Hamel came to the Mets after a successful collegiate career at Dallas Baptist. Hamel started the 2022 campaign with the Low-A St. Lucie Mets, where he pitched to a 5-2 record with a 3.84 ERA over the course of 13 starts and one relief appearance.
The singular relief appearance, however, was one of his best professional outings. Following Jacob deGrom after his first rehab outing, Hamel went six innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts, all in front of a Clover Park packed with fans and scouts who came for deGrom but stayed for Hamel.
After being promoted from St. Lucie to High-A Brooklyn, Hamel’s season only improved. Hamel would pitch to a 2.59 ERA over the course of 11 starts, an improved K/9 from 10.1 to 12.0, and moved his WHIP from 1.26 to 1.08. The 119 innings Hamel pitched became a new career high for the righty, after previously topping out at 94.2 innings between DBU and the FCL in 2021.
Hamel will open the 2023 season at age 24, and should see a move to Binghamton quickly after spring training ends. Hamel tracks as a numbers darling with an excellent spin on his breaking balls, slider, changeup, and curveball, and a solid fastball that MLB Pipeline grades as a 55-grade pitch.
Hamel began the 2022 season as Mets Minors’ ninth-ranked prospect in the organization, and the second-ranked starting pitcher, only behind Matt Allan. Expect to see him stay around the back end of the Mets’ organizational top-10 prospects, despite a strong 2022 draft class from the Mets, including fellow collegiate RHP Blade Tidwell.
