Making it in Major League Baseball as a rookie is anything but easy. Some newcomers arrive with top-prospect status and plenty of leeway, while others face pressure from day one. Right-hander Dom Hamel falls into the latter category.
The Baltimore Orioles picked him up off waivers from the New York Mets on Saturday, but just five days later, without ever throwing a pitch for Baltimore, he was designated for assignment again. This marks the second time in less than a week Hamel has been DFA’d, leaving him available for any club willing to take a chance. The Orioles made the move Wednesday afternoon to clear a roster spot for another waiver claim, righty Carson Ragsdale, who had recently been cut loose by the Atlanta Braves. With Baltimore scrambling to build pitching depth after a disastrous year on the mound, Hamel once more finds himself on the outside looking in.
Hamel’s path has been rocky. He was first called up by the Mets in August but never got into a game. A September recall gave him a single scoreless inning before the Mets cut him the very next day. Across his minor-league career, the 26-year-old owns a 4.72 ERA but has racked up an impressive 511 strikeouts in 438 1/3 innings. Drafted in the third round in 2021 out of Dallas Baptist, he still holds promise despite the setbacks.
It’s possible the Orioles hope he’ll slip through waivers so they can stash him for spring training without using a 40-man roster spot all winter. But that depends on whether any of the other 29 clubs decide to claim him.
Just two weeks ago, Hamel had never pitched in the majors. Now, he’s been cut loose by two teams in quick succession. Whether he lands with a third or sticks with Baltimore, fans can only hope he eventually gets the chance to prove himself.