Jason Hammel is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on September 2, 1982, in Greenville, South Carolina, and attended Treasure Coast High School in Florida. After high school, Hammel was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 10th round of the 2002 MLB draft.
Hammel made his MLB debut with the Devil Rays in 2006, but he struggled in his first few seasons. In 2008, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, where he began to find success. Hammel had a breakout season in 2009, posting a 10-8 record with a 4.33 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 176.2 innings pitched. He helped lead the Rockies to the playoffs that year, and he pitched well in the postseason, allowing just one run in 12 innings.
Hammel continued to pitch well for the Rockies in 2010 and 2011, but he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles before the 2012 season. He had a solid season for the Orioles, going 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 starts. Hammel struggled with injuries in 2013 and 2014, but he bounced back in 2015 with a 10-7 record and a 3.74 ERA in 30 starts.
After the 2015 season, Hammel signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. He had a strong first season with the Cubs, going 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 30 starts. Hammel helped lead the Cubs to the playoffs, but he struggled in his two postseason starts, allowing a total of eight runs in just 3.1 innings pitched.
Hammel had a solid start to the 2017 season for the Cubs, but he struggled in the second half and was eventually moved to the bullpen. He was left off the Cubs' playoff roster that year, and he became a free agent after the season. Hammel signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals for the 2018 season, and he made the team out of spring training. He struggled in his first few starts for the Royals, however, and he was eventually moved to the bullpen. Hammel was released by the Royals in September 2018, and he announced his retirement from baseball shortly thereafter.
Overall, Hammel had a solid career in the major leagues, posting a 96-114 record with a 4.62 ERA in 377 games (298 starts). He struck out 1,237 batters in 1,870.1 innings pitched. Hammel was known for his durability and his ability to eat innings, as he pitched at least 170 innings in six different seasons. He was also known for his competitiveness and his work ethic, and he was respected by his teammates and coaches throughout his career.
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