By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Among the Philadelphia Phillies’ many promising prospects, one pitching arm in particular stands out as having quickly risen through the system — RHP J.D. Hammer.
On Tuesday, the right-hander was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, despite logging just 13 career games at Double-A, all in 2019, and just 12 combined appearances last season between the Rookie and Advanced-A levels due two disabled list stints.
The move marked the 24-year-old’s third promotion within the Phillies system since last August; he was acquired from the Colorado Rockies in July 2017, along with INF Jose Gomez and RHP Alejandro Requena, in exchange for then-newly named All-Star RHP Pat Neshek. Neshek ended up returning to the club that offseason, and remains with the team to this date as a reliable back-end reliever.
Another AFL reel for y'all: Here's #Phillies RHP J.D. Hammer. pic.twitter.com/lMwZMvyGzq
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) October 24, 2017
“Last year was not an ideal year, but it taught me a lot” Hammer recently told The Morning Call. “I went into the offseason taking better care of my body, understanding what I needed to do to be healthy.”
Hammer’s efforts paid off; he began the 2019 campaign at Double-A Reading allowing just one earned run over his first 12 appearances, en route a 0.46 ERA and .183/.227/.254 opposing slash line striking out 25 batters over 19 2/3 innings. Hammer struggled in his most recent outing, allowing three runs in just 2/3 innings on Sunday, yet the Phillies still decided to promote him to the Triple-A level just two days later.
“Hammer Time”-line:
2017
- July 26, 2017: Acquired from Colorado Rockies
- July 30-August 31, 2017: (A+) Clearwater Threshers
- 2-0, 12 G, 15 2/3 IP, 8 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 20 SO, 0 HR, 0.57 ERA, .154/.182/.212
- October 11-November 1, 2017: Arizona Fall League
- 2 Saves, 7 G, 8 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 0.00 ERA, .074/.167/.074
2018
- June 6-13, 2018: (A+) Clearwater Threshers
- 1-1, 3 G, 3 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 7.36 ERA, .313/.353/.375
- August 9-14, 2018: (Rk-Gulf) GCL Phillies West & GCL Phillies East
- 1 Save, 3 G, 4 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR, 2.25 ERA, .200/.200/.333
- Promotion 1: August 18-September 2, 2018: (A+) Clearwater Threshers
- 0-1, 6 G, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR, .143/.250/.143
2019
- Promotion 2: April 6-May 19, 2019: (AA) Reading Fightin Phils
- 1-0, 2 Saves, 13 G, 20 1/3 IP, 17 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 26 SO, HR, 1.77 ERA, .221/.259/.351
- Promotion 3: May 21, 2019: Promoted to (AAA) Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Twelve of Hammer’s 13 appearances came in the sixth inning or later; Hammer told The Morning Call that back-end relievers must have “a little bit of an edge.”
“You have to be a little bit out there, a little bit crazy,” Hammer said. “Bullpen guys are a little bit different. You have to have a different mentality, especially up here.”
“You’re sitting in the cold for awhile, jumping straight up and getting ready.”
A fourth promotion for Hammer, when that occurs, would mean a call-up to the big-league level. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Corey Seidmen thinks it could come in the not too distant future.
“As long as he continues to pitch well, seems likely we’ll see him this season,” Seidman said. “The Phillies cycle through relievers who have options, and they’ve shown frequently the last two years they won’t hesitate to call up a hot hand.”
