WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Upon arriving in Port St. Lucie, Dominic Hamel sat for an introductory meeting with David Stearns.
The promising starting pitching prospect told the brand new Mets president of baseball operations a bit about himself and about his goals, notably to achieve Queens as soon as possible.
“I wish to win. I wish to compete. I wish to pitch,” Hamel said he told Stearns. “And if I can, I’d wish to help the team as soon as I can.
“I do know you’ve got your individual expectations for me, but I’ve got my very own as well. I need to be up there [in the majors]. I need to be an immediate-impact guy. But that every one comes by coming in here day-to-day, stacking days.”
The moment won’t arrive as soon as Hamel would want, however the No. 14 prospect within the organization, based on MLB Pipeline, is on the team’s radar.
Hamel, who led all Mets minor leaguers last season with 160 strikeouts (in 124 innings), was a third-round pick of Dallas Baptist in 2021 who has steadily moved up the system and spent all of last 12 months at Double-A Binghamton, where he consistently induced whiffs and finished with a 3.85 ERA.
The righty got stronger because the season got longer, determining a newly developed sweeper that had given him trouble and ending his 12 months with 21 ²/₃ consecutive scoreless innings.
Last 12 months was in regards to the sweeper for Hamel, who excels largely with an elite ability to spin four-seam fastballs, curveballs and sliders.
This 12 months is likely to be a couple of cutter after former Yankees mind and recent Mets Triple-A pitching coach Grayson Crawford taught him a recent grip.
“Quite a lot of the scouting reports are like, ‘fastball, slider,’” Hamel said. “If I can just work a cutter in there, it’s just another look.”
The Grapefruit League has not been kind to Hamel, who entered within the sixth inning of Sunday’s game against the Astros and faced two batters within the pouring rain.
He walked one and induced a ground out before the sport was called.
Hamel was then reassigned to minor league camp.
Hamel won’t break camp with the most important league team, but he’s amongst a deep class of Mets starting pitching prospects who’s hoping to complete off his minor league education quickly.
“I do know I bust my ass. I do know I’ve made good jumps,” Hamel said. “If I keep doing that, it’s only a matter of time. I’m trying to depart [Stearns] no selection.”
With Wednesday’s game canceled, the Mets will move their starting pitchers back a day.
Jose Quintana, who was purported to start Wednesday, will pitch Thursday against the Nationals.
Kodai Senga, who received a PRP shot for his right shoulder strain Feb. 23, is “continuing to say that he’s feeling good with the limited activity that he’s doing,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Senga just isn’t purported to resume throwing until at the least March 15.
“He’s strengthening that shoulder,” Mendoza said. “Up to now, so good.”
Edwin Diaz felt high-quality a day after his first intrasquad scrimmage.
“All positive signs,” Mendoza said of Diaz, who is anticipated to pitch in a minor league game Friday.
