Dom Hamel has had quite the ride - and not the kind most pitchers dream of. Once a top-10 prospect in the Mets' system, Hamel now finds himself back on the waiver wire after a whirlwind stretch that’s seen him bounce from the Mets to the Orioles, to the Rangers, and most recently, to the Yankees - all without throwing a single pitch for any of those teams. Four organizations, zero innings, and a whole lot of uncertainty.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a guy who was once seen as part of the Mets’ future. While fellow prospect Mike Vasil ended up getting plucked in the Rule 5 Draft and carved out a solid role in the White Sox bullpen last season, Hamel stayed put in Triple-A and made a brief MLB debut in relief this past September. That debut didn’t exactly open the door to more opportunity - instead, it kicked off a stretch of DFA limbo that’s now seen him designated four times in just a matter of months.
Let’s be clear: Hamel’s not some washed-up veteran hanging on by a thread. He’s 26, turns 27 in March, and still has some of the tools that made him a promising arm coming out of the 2021 draft.
But his Triple-A numbers haven’t helped his case - an ERA north of 5.00 over parts of two seasons is tough to ignore, especially when teams are trying to optimize every roster spot. Add in the fact that he still has minor league options, and it’s surprising no team has been willing to stash him and see what he can become.
This is the reality of today’s waiver wire. Teams are constantly churning the bottom of their 40-man rosters, looking for upside or depth, but rarely committing to a player unless there’s an immediate need.
Hamel’s been caught in that churn - claimed, DFA’d, and passed along like a hot potato. It’s a tough spot, especially for a pitcher who hasn’t even had the chance to prove himself in a meaningful way at the big-league level.
The Mets, for their part, seem to have moved on. With a stocked pitching depth chart and a handful of younger arms in the pipeline, there’s little incentive for them to revisit a reunion with Hamel.
They know him better than anyone and had ample opportunity to give him a longer look. That ship has sailed.
Hamel was part of a 2021 draft class that, outside of fifth-rounder Christian Scott, hasn’t exactly lit up the majors. Some names are still hanging around the Mets’ system, but the group hasn’t produced much impact talent yet.
Kumar Rocker, the team’s first-round pick that year, never even signed. Carson Seymour, another arm from that class, has already been traded.
So where does that leave Hamel? He’ll pitch somewhere in 2026 - that much seems certain.
Whether it’s in Triple-A, overseas, or with a team willing to give him an extended look remains to be seen. But after being passed around like a daycare cold, you have to hope he lands in a spot that values what he can bring to the table - even if it’s just as a long reliever or depth starter.
There’s still a path forward for him, but he’s going to need the right team - and a little patience - to walk it.