University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Off Script: It’s Hammer’s Time
9/18/2018 1:09:00 PM | Baseball
Dan Hammer Looks to Take His Place in Pitt Baseball Legacy
Professional pitchers aren't something the University of Pittsburgh has been hesitant in developing over the years. Whether it's a 100+ MPH fastball from San Francisco Giants reliever Ray Black or the first round draft selection of T.J. Zeuch, Pitt is a pitchers paradise. And rising junior Dan Hammer doesn't shy away from that lineage.
Hammer returns to Pitt for his third season as one of the top pitchers in collegiate baseball. He dazzled in the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer, garnering national attention with his aggressive delivery and easy demeanor. He wrapped up his nearly two-month stint on Cape Cod with 25.0 frames of work over six games, letting up just six runs and five walks, while striking out 20 and holding opponents to a .208 average. His dominance led to an all-star berth as he was named the starting pitcher for the East Division in the league's midsummer's classic.
His impressive Cape showing pushed the generally quiet Hammer onto the national scene, but despite all of his success, his rise into prominence wasn't the easiest of roads.
A highly-touted recruit out of Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, Hammer committed to Pitt as the fourth-best right-handed pitcher in the state and a top-200 national recruit, according to Perfect Game. A two-time First-Team All-Catholic League selection and 2016 Catholic League MVP, the hard-throwing right-hander was garnering serious attention from major league clubs as the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft approached. Despite the allure of the professional ranks, Hammer declined to take the dramatic career jump, opting instead to honor his commitment to the University of Pittsburgh.
"We knew right away that Dan was someone we were going to go after hard," recalled pitching coach Jerry Oakes. "Even back then you could tell he had big time stuff with big time potential. He was a bulldog on the mound and was very knowledgeable about the game. He knew what he had to do and how he had to do it to accomplish his goals and that was evident. It was great getting to know him throughout the recruiting process because he was just a great kid – very respectful and humble – and we knew he would be a great addition and representative of our program."
"I committed to Pitt pretty early in the process and I knew right away it was a good fit for me," Hammer said. "I had a great feeling with the coaches, loved the facilities, the fact that Pitt is in the ACC – one of the best conferences in baseball – and I loved the vision for where this team can go in the next few years."
Hammer was thrust into a starting role in his rookie campaign, making 16 appearances, including 11 starts, and battling to a 5.03 ERA. He threw 59.0 frames that season, the most of his young career, striking out 51, but succumbing to a 3-5 record.
He took the field as a Panther for the first time in a start on opening weekend, toeing the rubber against Delaware in a 3-2 Pitt victory on Feb. 19. His outing impressed as he blazed through the Blue Hen batters, throwing 7.0 innings of one-run work, striking out seven.
As the weekends relied on a three-man rotation, Hammer moved into the bullpen before returning to the starting rotation in a mid-week role. Three performances against Kent State, West Virginia and Penn State proved his worth as he again returned to the bullpen in a solid two-inning performance against Virginia that paved the way for his first career ACC start.
Hammer would get the call in back-to-back games against powerhouse conference opponents, going at least five innings against Miami and North Carolina, tallying his first ACC victory against the Tar Heels. Despite being plunged into a challenging role as a rookie, he showed his will to succeed, wrapping up the season with some crucial performances.
"That first year was very humbling," Hammer recalled. "I learned a lot about myself in my first year. Learning how to deal with failure has helped me mature mentally as a player and as a student of the game. My motivation to be the best I can be has increased through my struggles, which can create success by believing in myself."
Year two got off to a rough start for the sophomore, as he struggled with command and consistency and was moved out of the starting rotation as the ACC season got underway. After a pair of strong relief appearances against national powerhouse North Carolina, he was called upon as the Friday night starter against a top-25 Duke team, but didn't record an out as his ERA jumped into double digits.
"It's always tough when going through struggles on the field, especially when you spend an entire offseason preparing to compete against that caliber of competition," Hammer said. "However it is very rewarding to come out of a tough spot and help my team win. Trusting myself through my training and mental preparation is the key for me to stay on track and find success in this game."
Despite the rough start, the young pitcher was able to recover, showing his determination and perseverance when it mattered most. A seven-frame, six-strikeout performance against Georgia Tech catapulted Hammer back into a starting role – and he didn't disappoint.
As the season came to a close, Hammer was able to lower his ERA by nearly five points, collecting 36 of his 58 strikeouts in the last eight games. He earned the start in back-to-back games in Pitt's historic run in the ACC Championship, giving the Panthers a chance at history against North Carolina and Louisville at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
As year three approaches for the presumed ace of the Panther staff, a leadership role is one that he embraces.
"I just want to be one of the most consistent guys on the staff, just being somebody that anyone can talk to about mechanical things or mental things," he said. "I've gone through some struggles and it think I'm coming out of it. I've been on both sides of it so I think I'm someone that people can talk to about those kinds of things. I just want to lead by example and voice my opinions when I need to and I'm' really looking forward to being one of the leaders and one of the experienced guys on this team."
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Hammer returns to Pitt for his third season as one of the top pitchers in collegiate baseball. He dazzled in the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer, garnering national attention with his aggressive delivery and easy demeanor. He wrapped up his nearly two-month stint on Cape Cod with 25.0 frames of work over six games, letting up just six runs and five walks, while striking out 20 and holding opponents to a .208 average. His dominance led to an all-star berth as he was named the starting pitcher for the East Division in the league's midsummer's classic.
His impressive Cape showing pushed the generally quiet Hammer onto the national scene, but despite all of his success, his rise into prominence wasn't the easiest of roads.
A highly-touted recruit out of Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, Hammer committed to Pitt as the fourth-best right-handed pitcher in the state and a top-200 national recruit, according to Perfect Game. A two-time First-Team All-Catholic League selection and 2016 Catholic League MVP, the hard-throwing right-hander was garnering serious attention from major league clubs as the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft approached. Despite the allure of the professional ranks, Hammer declined to take the dramatic career jump, opting instead to honor his commitment to the University of Pittsburgh.
"We knew right away that Dan was someone we were going to go after hard," recalled pitching coach Jerry Oakes. "Even back then you could tell he had big time stuff with big time potential. He was a bulldog on the mound and was very knowledgeable about the game. He knew what he had to do and how he had to do it to accomplish his goals and that was evident. It was great getting to know him throughout the recruiting process because he was just a great kid – very respectful and humble – and we knew he would be a great addition and representative of our program."
"I committed to Pitt pretty early in the process and I knew right away it was a good fit for me," Hammer said. "I had a great feeling with the coaches, loved the facilities, the fact that Pitt is in the ACC – one of the best conferences in baseball – and I loved the vision for where this team can go in the next few years."
Hammer was thrust into a starting role in his rookie campaign, making 16 appearances, including 11 starts, and battling to a 5.03 ERA. He threw 59.0 frames that season, the most of his young career, striking out 51, but succumbing to a 3-5 record.
He took the field as a Panther for the first time in a start on opening weekend, toeing the rubber against Delaware in a 3-2 Pitt victory on Feb. 19. His outing impressed as he blazed through the Blue Hen batters, throwing 7.0 innings of one-run work, striking out seven.
As the weekends relied on a three-man rotation, Hammer moved into the bullpen before returning to the starting rotation in a mid-week role. Three performances against Kent State, West Virginia and Penn State proved his worth as he again returned to the bullpen in a solid two-inning performance against Virginia that paved the way for his first career ACC start.
Hammer would get the call in back-to-back games against powerhouse conference opponents, going at least five innings against Miami and North Carolina, tallying his first ACC victory against the Tar Heels. Despite being plunged into a challenging role as a rookie, he showed his will to succeed, wrapping up the season with some crucial performances.
"That first year was very humbling," Hammer recalled. "I learned a lot about myself in my first year. Learning how to deal with failure has helped me mature mentally as a player and as a student of the game. My motivation to be the best I can be has increased through my struggles, which can create success by believing in myself."
Year two got off to a rough start for the sophomore, as he struggled with command and consistency and was moved out of the starting rotation as the ACC season got underway. After a pair of strong relief appearances against national powerhouse North Carolina, he was called upon as the Friday night starter against a top-25 Duke team, but didn't record an out as his ERA jumped into double digits.
"It's always tough when going through struggles on the field, especially when you spend an entire offseason preparing to compete against that caliber of competition," Hammer said. "However it is very rewarding to come out of a tough spot and help my team win. Trusting myself through my training and mental preparation is the key for me to stay on track and find success in this game."
Despite the rough start, the young pitcher was able to recover, showing his determination and perseverance when it mattered most. A seven-frame, six-strikeout performance against Georgia Tech catapulted Hammer back into a starting role – and he didn't disappoint.
As the season came to a close, Hammer was able to lower his ERA by nearly five points, collecting 36 of his 58 strikeouts in the last eight games. He earned the start in back-to-back games in Pitt's historic run in the ACC Championship, giving the Panthers a chance at history against North Carolina and Louisville at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
As year three approaches for the presumed ace of the Panther staff, a leadership role is one that he embraces.
"I just want to be one of the most consistent guys on the staff, just being somebody that anyone can talk to about mechanical things or mental things," he said. "I've gone through some struggles and it think I'm coming out of it. I've been on both sides of it so I think I'm someone that people can talk to about those kinds of things. I just want to lead by example and voice my opinions when I need to and I'm' really looking forward to being one of the leaders and one of the experienced guys on this team."
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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