Mets' sign 97 MPH fastball pitcher with perfect name originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets aren't quite done making offseason roster moves yet.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey signed a free agent pitcher with a great name to a deal on Sunday.
MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported the deal -- Dan Hammer has signed a two-year minor league contract with the Mets.
DiComo adds that Hammer's fastball gets up to 97 miles per hour. And yeah, that's a great pitcher name.
MORE: Reds reportedly sign 12-year old for $2.8 million
Hammer is a 6-foot-2, 28-year old right-hander originally from Philadelphia.
He was a 13th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.
Hammer has never made it higher than Double-A in the minor leagues.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2025, he pitched in the Rays' organization for Double-A Montgomery. In 31 outings, he had a 6.57 ERA.
His career minor league ERA is 5.34.
The tantalizing part of Hammer is the strikeout numbers. He has averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings in his minor league career.
MORE: This Mets phenom ate 900 raw eggs in a month to develop his 100 MPH fastball
The issue? Walks.
Hammer walks 7.5 batters per nine innings in his minor league career. That's about as bad a number as you'll see.
The Mets will be hoping they can solve something with Hammer to nail down his control and get him in a better place without losing his ability to miss bats.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf they can somehow thread the needle, this could turn out to be a fun signing.
If not, it wasn't a high-risk maneuver anyway.
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