It’s been 729 days since JD Hammer last made an appearance for the Phillies in 2019. The young right hander, acquired in a 2017 trade with the Rockies, was called up by the Phillies to replace Odúbel Herrera Thursday.
Hammer was promoted to the Phillies just five days after arriving at Lehigh Valley for the first time in 2019. He experienced a modicum of success at the big league level in that year, pitching to a 3.79 ERA, but walked almost as many batters as he struck out.
Less than two months after joining the Phillies that season, Hammer was demoted back to Lehigh Valley where his ERA ballooned to 12.64. That February, Hammer was outrighted off the 40-man roster but went unclaimed and spent 2020 at the alternate site.
This season, Hammer has dazzled hitters at Lehigh Valley. In 20 2/3 IP he managed a 14.4 K/9 and posted a 1.74 ERA, a far cry from his 2019 season with the IronPigs.
Now the Phillies will look to Hammer to bolster a floundering bullpen that leads MLB in blown saves. It is unknown just yet what role Hammer will serve, but with Héctor Neris and José Alvarado still struggling, Hammer may be called upon to eat important innings down the stretch for the Phillies.
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