| Cole Hamels | |
|---|---|
 Hamels with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1983-12-27)December 27, 1983 (age 41) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 12, 2006, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 16, 2020, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 163–122 |
| Earned run average | 3.43 |
| Strikeouts | 2,560 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Colbert Michael Hamels (born December 27, 1983), nicknamed "Hollywood",[1] is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Phillies (2006–2015),Texas Rangers (2015–2018),Chicago Cubs (2018–2019), andAtlanta Braves (2020).
Originally fromSan Diego,California, Hamels excelled atRancho Bernardo High School both academically and athletically.[2][3] The Phillies drafted Hamels out of high school, in the first round (17th overall) of the2002 MLB Draft, and he began playing in the Phillies’ minor league system. Numerous issues, including an injury sustained in a bar fight, among other injuries, occurred during Hamels’ first few minor league seasons. When he reached theTriple-A level, he was the top pitcher in the Phillies' minor league system in2006.
In May 2006, Hamels made his major league debut for the Phillies. After securing a long-term spot as a member of the Philliesstarting rotation in his rookie season, he made large strides in the2007 MLB season and won the Phillies' top major league pitcher award. Hamels was both the top pitcher on the team entering the2008 season, as well as during the Phillies' postseason run, during which they ultimately won the2008 World Series over theTampa Bay Rays; he won theWorld Series Most Valuable Player Award. After the 2008 season, Hamels signed a three-year contract with the Phillies. His statistics declined over the next two seasons, as he struggled through a tumultuous2009 campaign and somewhat bounced back in2010 — however, still not approaching his 2008 numbers. Over the next few seasons, Hamels was joined by fellow All-Star pitchersRoy Halladay,Cliff Lee, andRoy Oswalt. Hamels flourished alongside them, putting up some of his top career seasons, before suffering from poor run support in2013. With the decline of his aging teammates, the team missed the postseason for the next few years, but he remained one of the Phillies' consistent stars. Hamels was traded to the Texas Rangers in2015, and he sparked their run to the AL West title that season. Hamels spent parts of four seasons with the Rangers, including an All-Star season in2016, before being traded to the Cubs in2018. In 2020, he was shut down for the season after pitching only3+1⁄3 innings. After two unsuccessful comeback attempts, Hamels announced his retirement in2023.
Hamels attended Meadowbrook Middle School andRancho Bernardo High School in San Diego. He was a "gifted student", and scored a 1510 (out of 1600) on theSAT.[4][5] Scouts were interested in Hamels while he was in high school primarily because hisfastball was clocked as high as 94 miles per hour (151 km/h), and his secondary offerings were considered advanced.[6] However, some teams lost interest when Hamels broke his lefthumerus during his sophomore year.[7][8] Nonetheless, Hamels was drafted in the first round of the2002 Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 17th overall selection.[9]
Hamels began his professional baseball career in 2003, pitching for theClass ALakewood BlueClaws of theSouth Atlantic League. Later that season, he was promoted to theClearwater Threshers of theClass A-AdvancedFlorida State League. He finished the year by receiving thePaul Owens Award, given to the best pitcher in thePhillies' minor league system.[10]
During the next two seasons, however, Hamels suffered through several injuries, and pitched only sparingly. He missed most of the 2004 season with elbow tendinitis, making only four starts. In 2005, he broke his pitching hand in a bar fight before the season began;[11] afterrehabilitation, he was assigned to Clearwater. In July, the Phillies promoted him to theDouble-AReading Phillies of theEastern League, where he surrendered the first home run of his professional career in his first start. Subsequently, he was shut down for the remainder of the season withback spasms.[12]: 84
In 2006, a healthy Hamels started again at Clearwater, and after a brief stint in Reading, he was promoted to theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons of theTriple-AInternational League. In three games at Scranton, hestruck out 36 batters while giving up only onewalk and onerun.[13] His minor league statistics included arecord of 14–4 with a 1.43 ERA and 273 strikeouts in 35 games pitched.[14] For his performance, the Phillies promoted him to the major leagues.[12]: 84
Hamels was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies in May 2006.[13] In his Major League Baseball debut on May 12, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowed onehit, struck out seven batters andwalked five while earning a no-decision against theCincinnati Reds.[15] In his second career start, Hamels was dominant until the seventh inning, during which he was pulled after he allowed several baserunners, but again received a no-decision.[16] A shoulder injury scratched Hamels from the lineup of what would have originally been his third major league start. He was put on the 15-daydisabled list[17] and returned on June 6 to defeat theArizona Diamondbacks 10–1 for his first major leaguevictory. On August 14, Hamels had his best start of his rookie season, shutting out theNew York Mets over eight innings and striking out nine in the Phillies' 13–0 victory.[18] He finished his rookie season with a 9–8 record, a 4.08earned run average (ERA) and 145 strikeouts (third among NL rookies) in132+1⁄3 innings (sixth among NL rookies).[12]: 84
Hamels entered the 2007 season having done significant work in theweight room in the offseason and at spring training.[19] His tenacity came to fruition when, on April 21, 2007, Hamels pitched his first major leaguecomplete game, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while setting a career high with 15 strikeouts.[20] Just three days before, the Phillies moved their opening day starterBrett Myers to the bullpen to be thecloser, making Hamels the team's number one starter.[21] On May 16, he carried aperfect game into the seventh inning against theMilwaukee Brewers but then walked leadoff hitterRickie Weeks and surrendered a home run to the next batter,J. J. Hardy.[22]
Barring serious first-half slumps, he figures to go (to the All-Star game) every year until the mid-2010s.
For his strong performance during the first half of the season, Hamels was, for the first time in his career, selected a member of theNL All Star Team.[24] As Hamels had been the Phillies' only consistent starter to that point, even to the point that one columnist said the Phillies are a joke "as long as we are forced to look forward to someone other than Cole Hamels on the mound",[25] the Phillies acquiredKyle Lohse to supplement the rotation soon before the trading deadline.[26] Several weeks later, Hamels was placed on the 15-day disabled list (DL) with a mild left elbow strain. After the Phillies activated him from the DL, on September 28, he helped the Phillies take over first place in theNational League East by striking out 13Washington Nationals over eight innings in a 6–0 win.[27] Two days later, the team clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.[28] In the first game of theNational League Division Series, he started for the Phillies, but surrendered three runs, three hits, and an "uncharacteristic" four walks, while striking out seven in6+2⁄3 innings; he was assessed the loss.[29] Ultimately, the Phillies lost the series. Hamels finished with a regular-season record of 15–5, a 3.39 ERA, and 177 strikeouts in183+1⁄3 innings. The Philadelphia chapter of theBaseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) presented him the"Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher" award.[30]
Before the season began in March, Hamels made a complaint about the Phillies underpaying him, saying it was a "low blow" and he was "caught off-guard" with the gap between what he and hisagent John Boggs felt was a fair reward for his performance in the previous season and what he was paid: the Phillies paid him$500,000, barely above the minimum salary for MLB players, despite Hamels' strong performance.[31][32]
Though Hamels was the "clear-cut ace", Charlie Manuel penciled inBrett Myers as the Phillies' opening day starter because Myers accepted his role as closer the preceding season, putting the team ahead of his personal wishes to start.
By the end of April, Hamels led the Phillies in most pitching categories, including wins (3), ERA (2.70), and innings pitched (43+1⁄3). Continuing his dominance into May, Hamels recorded his first career complete gameshutout against theAtlanta Braves on the 15th of that month.[33][34] By June, Myers had been demoted to the minor leagues due to his ineffectiveness, leaving Hamels alone atop the rotation. Hamels was snubbed from a selection to the All-Star Game despite strong numbers.[35] For the season, Hamels was 14–10 with a 3.09 ERA and 196 strikeouts in227+1⁄3 innings; he had the loweston-base percentage-against (OBP) in the majors at .272.[36]FanGraphs also rated hischangeup as the most effective in the majors.[37]
Hamels pitched in Game 1 of theNational League Division Series against the Brewers, pitching "eight spectacular two-hit shutout innings" during which he struck out nine hitters, notching his first career playoff win, and the Phillies' first playoff win since 1993.[38]: 49 He commented, "I knew the importance of the game. And it's something where, because of last year, I learned what it really takes in trying to ... kind of mellow out, not to have that sort of excitement where you can't really control everything."[38]: 51 He was named theMost Valuable Player (MVP) of theNational League Championship Series, going 2–0 in the NLCS with a 1.93 ERA and winning the series clincher on October 15 in Los Angeles.
Hamels was selected the Phillies starter for Game 1 of theWorld Series; the Phillies won 3–2, and Hamels earned his fourth win of the postseason. Hamels also started Game 5, which was suspended due to rain after the top of the sixth inning tied at 2–2 so he received a no-decision. When Game 5 resumed, Hamels did not pitch on short rest but the Phillies won 4–3 to clinch the World Series.[39]
Overall, Hamels made five postseason starts in 2008, going 4–0 with a 1.80 ERA.[40] Hamels threw a total of 35 innings during the postseason, and held opponents scoreless in 28 of them; he never allowed more than one run in any of the seven innings in which he did not hold opponents scoreless.[38]: 217 Hamels was named theWorld Series MVP.[41]
Subsequently, sportswriterJayson Stark wrote,
The names on the list are the names who have carved their legends in the month of October ... We know their names because October was their kind of month, and they belong on that list because they once did something very few pitchers have ever done. They all won four starts in the same postseason. And now they have company ... a 24-year-old left-hander named Cole Hamels. And with every time the Phillies handed him the baseball in October 2008, it became more apparent that he is one of the sports' most special talents.
— Stark inWorth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies[38]: 157
ThePhiladelphia chapter of the BBWAA presented him the "Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher" award for the second consecutive year.[42]
Hamels started his 2009 season by signing a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the Phillies.[43] On February 14, the first day of spring training for pitchers and catchers, when asked who the Opening Day starter would be, managerCharlie Manuel responded, "Yeah, you might as well go ahead and pencil him in. I don't think there's any sense in me playing games. Go ahead, pencil him in."[44]
However, Hamels left spring training on March 16 after feeling tightness between innings, and flew to Philadelphia to have his left elbow examined by Dr. Michael Ciccotti. "This will obviously set me back a couple of days, and I don't think that should be a big deal", said Hamels.[45] Ciccotti found no structural damage in his arm,[46] yet Hamels still did not pitch onOpening Day as expected; Myers did for the third consecutive season.[47][48] For the first time in his career, Hamels went winless in his first four starts, and left back-to-back starts early due to injury in late April, sustaining a left-shoulder contusion and an ankle sprain respectively. From June on, however, he returned to his previous form, recording two complete-game shutouts (tied for the NL-lead), striking out at least 10 batters in two separate games, and amassing a 21-inning scoreless streak from August 21 to September 6, while allowing just two home runs in his final eight starts.[12] In July, the Phillies augmented their starting rotation by acquiring two formerCy Young Award winners inCliff Lee andPedro Martínez from a trade and a free agent signing respectively.[49][50] Due to his early season injury struggles, Hamels posted a 10–11 record and a 4.32 ERA in the regular season, his first major league season in which he posted a sub-.500 record, and the worst ERA of his career to that point.
Hamels started Game 2 of theNational League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies, allowing four earned runs through five innings to take the loss. Nevertheless, the Phillies won the series, three games to one. He earned the win in Game 1 of theNational League Championship Series as the Phillies beat the Dodgers, 8–6. Hamels started Game 3 of theWorld Series against theNew York Yankees, pitching4+1⁄3 innings, allowing five earned runs and taking the loss as the Yankees won that game 8–5. Afterward, he told reporters, "I can't wait for it (the season) to end. It's been mentally draining. It's one of those things where, a year in, you just can't wait for a fresh start", comments that were criticized by manager Charlie Manuel but otherwise largely regarded as speaking out of frustration.[51] Later in the series, after the Phillies won Game 5, a confrontational Brett Myers mockingly asked Hamels: "What are you doing here? I thought you quit."[52][53] Years later, in 2018, Hamels joked that Yankee fans love him due to the fact that he helped them win the series.[54] The Phillies lost the series to the New York Yankees in six games.[55]
Rob Neyer, asabermetrician and columnist forESPN.com, contradicted anyone who asserted Hamels' skills had deteriorated, instead commenting:
Last October, everybody was ready to anoint Hamels some sort of superhero. This was largely because he went 4–0 during the Phillies' championship run, but also because he went 14–10 with a 3.09 ERA during the regular season. Last season, Hamels' strikeout-to-walk ratio was 3.7; this year it's 3.8. Last year, Hamels gave up 1.1 home runs per nine innings; this year he's given up 1.3 homers per nine. The only real difference between the 2008 Hamels and the 2009 Hamels is luck.
Phillies' pitching coachRich Dubee and Hamels himself blamed Hamels' demeanor for some of his decline, noting, "He is such a perfectionist...his approach wasn't very good last year. His success won't come back until his demeanor changes" and "The more angry you get, it's that much tougher to execute your next pitch. I think I let [expectations] get to me" respectively.[57]
Entering the 2010 season, the Phillies traded away Cliff Lee, but in doing so, acquiredRoy Halladay in a "mega-trade".[58] They did not re-sign Myers,[59] and Halladay was named the Phillies' opening day starter.[60] Among Hamels' season highlights were a start on June 7 against theSan Diego Padres during which he threw6+1⁄3 innings of no-hit baseball, winning five consecutive starts including three consecutive scoreless starts from late-August to mid-September, and striking out 13 batters, tied for his second-highest career total, on September 13 against theFlorida Marlins.[12]
The Phillies finished with the best record in MLB. Hamels started Game 3 of theNational League Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds and, for the first time in his postseason career, pitched a complete-game shutout.[12] He also became the first pitcher to win a postseason game atGreat American Ball Park.[61] The Phillies advanced to theNational League Championship Series facing theSan Francisco Giants, where Hamels took the loss in Game 3, giving up three runs as the Giants'Matt Cain shut out the Phillies, en route to the Phillies' ultimate elimination in six games.[62]
Statistically, Hamels rebounded from his previous season by posting a 12–11 record with a 3.06 ERA, the latter of which was, at the time, a career-best. He also struck out a career-high 211 batters. Throughout the season, he was plagued by a lack ofrun support; in1⁄3 of his starts, the Phillies did not score a single run while he was in the game. Moreover, he received the fifth-lowest run support in the NL. Nevertheless, he allowed three or fewer earned runs in 26 of his 33 starts.[12] Jeff Nelson "facetiously" evaluated Hamels' season as follows:
Headcase. Immature. Soft. Unprepared. He wouldn't pitch on three-days rest if asked. He's not a big game pitcher. He sounds like a whiny 7-year old – these were some of the descriptions I heard and read from many Phillies fans following Cole Hamels' disappointing 2009 season. Heck, some people even wanted him traded after what he said during the '09 World Series. To the naked eye, Cole just wasn't right two years ago. Fast forward a year later and Hamels all the sudden 'found his game.' He 'flicked a switch' or 'put his game face on.' He was more prepared heading in to 2010 or he was cured from the Verducci effect.
— Jeff Nelson, contributor to Phillies Nation, December 31, 2010[63]
On December 15, 2010,Cliff Lee returned to the Phillies as he signed a free-agent contract with Philadelphia for five years and $120 million with a vesting option for a sixth year.[64] After this signing, the Phillies' starting rotation consisted of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, andJoe Blanton.[65] This rotation was considered one of the best in pitching history by many.[66][67][68][69] Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, and Hamels were dubbed the 'Phantastic Phour' by fans and the media.[68]
Hamels entered the 2011 season with a large amount of excitement and hype from fans and the media.[70][71] By the All-Star game, Hamels was 4–3.[71] On July 3, when the rosters for theMLB All-Star Game were broadcast onTBS, it was announced that Hamels was voted onto the National League team along with teammates Halladay, Lee,Plácido Polanco, andShane Victorino.[72][73] Hamels was not eligible to play, however, because he had pitched the Sunday prior to the All-Star Game.[72] Hamels shared his dismay with this rule, saying, "It's one of those things where people who don't play the game make the rules."[74]
The Phillies finished with the best record in MLB for the second year in a row. In theNational League Division Series against theSt. Louis Cardinals, Hamels started Game 3 which resulted in a 3–2 win to give the Phillies a 2–1 series lead, however the Phillies would lose Games 4 and 5 to be eliminated.
Hamels finished the 2011 season with a record of 14–9, 194 strikeouts, an ERA of 2.79, and a 0.986 WHIP.[75] He finished fifth in theCy Young Award voting behindClayton Kershaw, Halladay, Lee, andIan Kennedy.[76]
In October 2011, Hamels underwentelbow andhernia surgeries. Hamels had missed scheduled starts in August due to a stiff shoulder, and loose bodies were removed from his elbow to fix his problems.[77] Hamels was ready to pitch by the start ofspring training in 2012.
On January 17, Hamels and the Phillies agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract to avoidarbitration.[78] This was the highest salary ever paid to a pitcher eligible for arbitration before free agency.[78]
On May 6, Hamels was suspended for five games after hittingBryce Harper in his lower back with a pitch, after admitting that it was intentional.[79] On July 21, 2012, Hamels hit his first career home run, offSan Francisco Giants pitcherMatt Cain, who had homered off him in the top half of the same inning, the first time in MLB since 1990 that two pitchers had hit home runs off of each other in the same inning.[80]
Hamels would stay a Phillie when he agreed to a contract extension on July 24.[81] The six-year, $144 million contract was the second-largest contract ever signed by a pitcher.[82][83] The deal included a vesting option for 2019 worth $24 million. If the option did not vest, it would have turned into a club option for $20 million that included a $6 million buyout.
Hamels finished the season with career highs in wins (17) and strikeouts (216),[75] and finished eighth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.[84] His 3.05 ERA ranked second-best in his career (behind only his 2.79 ERA in 2011).[75] The Philadelphia chapter of the BBWAA presented him the "Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher" award.[42]
Before the 2013 season in spring training, managerCharlie Manuel named Hamels the 2013 opening day starter, which Matt Gelb ofThe Philadelphia Inquirer wrote was a "long time coming".[85] In his first career opening day start on April 1 against theAtlanta Braves, Hamels surrendered five earned runs in five innings and took the loss.[86]
Particularly early in the season, Hamels was plagued by a lack of run support; as of May 27, he had the fifth-lowest in the major leagues.[87] He lost his eighth start on May 27, declining to a record of 1–8, which oneSports Illustrated column attributed more to the Phillies poor offense than Hamels.[88] Nevertheless, it was "easily ... Hamels' worst performance of his eight-year career".[87] Aside from offensive struggles while Hamels was pitching, the Phillies defense struggled, though Hamels kept a positive attitude, once commenting that his luck should improve, as "I've been doing pretty well on the plane in poker."[89] Towards the end of the season, however, Hamels "put it together". In his final 11 starts he surrendered more than three runs only once.[90] In total, he amassed an 8–14 record with a 3.60 ERA in 220 innings and 202 strikeouts (sixth in NL).[91] Despite struggles from his teammates, sportswriter Bill Baer noted that Hamels,
was worse at generating swings and misses. His strikeout rate declined by 2.6 percent and his overall swinging strike rate declined by 2.1 percent. That doesn't seem like a whole lot, but consider that opposing hitters swung at 1,774 pitches during the 2013 season. A 2.1 percent decrease means 37 fewer swings and misses. That's a combination of 37 more balls in play or foul balls prolonging an at-bat.
— Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley, November 16, 2013[90]
Despite Hamels' poor record and ERA, 25 of his 33 starts werequality starts, and thus he gave his team a chance to win 25 times, yet only got eight wins.[92]
Before the 2014 season, Hamels announced that he would not be ready to pitch on Opening Day because oftendinitis in hisbiceps.[93] On April 6, Hamels pitched a rehab game at theClass A-Advanced level, striking out four while allowing two earned runs on three hits in four innings.[94][95] He made his first start of the season on April 23.[96]
Despite lack ofrun support contributing to a poor win–loss record, Hamels was among the best pitchers in the National League, and was even mentioned as a Cy Young candidate.[97] On September 1, Hamels pitched six innings of a Phillies combined no-hitter against theAtlanta Braves. Hamels was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh due to having five walks, a hit-batter, and 108 pitches through six innings.[98] Overall, Hamels was the only consistent star on the Phillies, finished sixth in Cy Young voting, and was frequently mentioned as a candidate to be traded in the offseason to bolster the Phillies' lacklusterfarm system, after he avoided being dealt at the July trading deadline.[99][100]
At the start of the 2015 season, there was much focus and speculation regarding trade possibilities surrounding Hamels.[101][102] TheBoston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,New York Yankees, andSan Francisco Giants expressed interest in trading for him during the 2015 season.[103][104][105]
On July 25, 2015, in what would be his final start for the Phillies before being traded, Hamelsno-hit the Chicago Cubs 5–0 atWrigley Field, striking out 13 and giving up only two walks, both toDexter Fowler, and besting the Cubs'Jake Arrieta—himself a no-hit pitcher a month later, on August 30 of that season.[106] It was the first no-hitter against the Cubs sinceSandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965, and first at Wrigley since the Cubs'Milt Pappas in 1972.[107] Hamels also joinedVida Blue,Mike Witt,Kent Mercker andKevin Millwood as no-hit pitchers who also pitched in a combined no-hitter.
On July 31, 2015, Hamels was traded to theTexas Rangers along withJake Diekman in exchange forMatt Harrison,Nick Williams,Jorge Alfaro,Jake Thompson,Alec Asher, andJerad Eickhoff.[108][109] Hamels became the first pitcher to be traded during a regular season after pitching a no-hitter in his final start with the team that traded him.Bert Blyleven had been the last pitcher to pitch a no-hitter in his final start with the team that traded him; after pitching a no-hitter for the Rangers in his final start of the 1977 season, he was traded to thePittsburgh Pirates that offseason.
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With the Rangers, Hamels went 7–1 in 12 starts with a 3.66 ERA. The Rangers were under .500 as late as August 3, but posted a winning record for the remainder of the 2015 season and eventually overtook theHouston Astros in September for the American League West division lead. The Rangers clinched the AL West title on the final day of the season, as Hamels threw a complete-game three-hitter in a 9–2 win over theLos Angeles Angels, the team's sixth division title and seventh postseason appearance in franchise history. Hamels' positive effect on the Rangers was compared to that of theToronto Blue Jays'David Price, another ace starting pitcher who helped spearhead a run to the postseason after blending in seamlessly with a struggling team who acquired him at the trade deadline.[110]
The Rangers lost to the Blue Jays in five games in theDivision Series after squandering a 2–0 series lead. Hamels received a no-decision in Game 2 as he left the game tied, but the Rangers won in 14 innings. Hamels started Game 5, and was pulled in the bottom of the seventh inning while the Rangers were leading 3–2, after Ranger infielders allowed the first three Jays batters to reach base on three consecutive errors; the Jays subsequently scored four runs to win 6–3, and Hamels was charged with the loss as he was responsible for the runners on base. (Only two of the runs he was charged with surrendering were earned.)[111]
Hamels was named the Opening Day starter for the Rangers in 2016. To start the season, after allowing two home runs in two innings, Hamels calmed down to pitch seven strong innings, while only allowing two runs on four hits and eight strikeouts for a win against theSeattle Mariners.[112][113] On June 12, again facing Seattle, Hamels recorded his 2,000th career strikeout, becoming the 77th player, and seventh active player, to reach the milestone.[114] He was named to theAll-Star Game.[115] On September 28, at home against the Milwaukee Brewers, Hamels claimed his 200th strikeout of the season.
Hamels finished the 2016 season with a 15–5 record and a 3.32 ERA in 32 starts.[116] He led major league pitchers in percent of ballspulled against him (47.1%).[117]
On May 3, 2017, Hamels was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right oblique muscle. He was ruled out for eight weeks.[118] In 24 starts for the 2017 season, he compiled an 11–6 record and a 4.20 ERA.[119]
Hamels opened the season as the Rangers' ace. In 20 starts, Hamels was 5–9 with a 4.72 ERA in114+1⁄3 innings.
On July 27, 2018, Hamels was traded to theChicago Cubs in exchange forEddie Butler, Rollie Lacy, and Alexander Ovalles.[120][121] He made his first appearance as a Cub on August 1, striking out nine. He gave up one unearned run and three hits in five innings, earning the win. On August 23, Hamels threw a complete game against the Cincinnati Reds, only allowing one run. Through his first five starts with the Cubs he was 4–0 with a 0.79 ERA, and the team won all five of the games.[122][123]
For the 2018 season between the two teams, he was 9–12 with a 3.78 ERA and led the major leagues in hit batsmen, with 19.[123][124] He also led the majors in giving up the highest percentage of hard-hit balls (41.9%).[125]
Hamels pitched in relief in the Cubs’Wild Card Game extra-inning loss to theColorado Rockies. He allowed two hits and a walk over two scoreless innings.[126]
In 2019, Hamels was 7–7 with a 3.81 ERA in147+2⁄3 innings over 27 starts.[75]
On December 4, 2019, Hamels signed a one-year, $18 million contract with theAtlanta Braves.[127]
During spring training, Hamels suffered a shoulder injury and was not expected to be able to pitch at the start of the 2020 season. However, theCOVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the regular season until July 24, with Hamels expected to make the Opening Day roster.
In 2020, he made only one start, pitching3+1⁄3 innings and giving up three earned runs against theBaltimore Orioles on September 16, which would be his final major league appearance.[128]
On August 4, 2021, Hamels signed with theLos Angeles Dodgers for $1 million through the remainder of the 2021 season, plus $200,000 for each game he started in the major leagues.[129] However, he experienced arm pain while throwing a simulated game in Arizona and was placed on the 60-day injured list, ending his comeback attempt.[130]
Hamels underwent three different surgeries in 2022 to try and prepare for another comeback attempt.[131] On February 16, 2023, he signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres.[132] Hamels had originally intended to make starts with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate, theEl Paso Chihuahuas, as part of his recovery. However, he experienced inflammation in his shoulder while working out with the team and was unable to continue his comeback attempt.[133]
On August 4, 2023, Hamels announced his retirement from professional baseball.[134] On June 21, 2024, the Phillies held a pregame ceremony where Hamels officially retired as a member of the team. Though his number has not been officially retired by the Phillies, two days before his retirement ceremony with the team, Phillies outfielderDavid Dahl changed his number from #35 to #31 out of respect for Hamels, who had known Dahl during his stint with the Padres.[135]
Hamels was known for possessing one of the betterchangeups in the game. In 2012,Fangraphs ranked Hamels as having the fourth best changeup, trailing onlyJason Vargas,Tommy Milone, andFélix Hernández.[136]The Hardball Times called his changeup a "killer" pitch to right-handed hitters, noting that while it is also effective against left-handed hitters, when they put it in play, they generally have success.[137] Rangers pitching coachMike Maddux said of Hamels,
It's a difficult task to try to get young guys to throw changeups, because their whole amateur career is spent staring at the scout with the gun. For a young guy to have a good changeup, that's an aptitude right there. It's pitchability.[138]
The development of Hamels' changeup is attributed by his high school pitching coach, Mark Furtak, to his having broken his arm in high school. He could no longer work on hiscurveball for several months and was forced to focus on the changeup.[139][140]Chipper Jones, a Hall of Famer for theAtlanta Braves, said in 2008 that Hamels was the "best left hander in the National League ... you have to respect his fastball, and his change-up is devastating. If you're guessing fastball and you get change-up, you're way out in front of it. His change-up is a soft sinker that just falls down."[140] Aside from the changeup, he threw afour-seam fastball that averaged 91.4 miles per hours and could reach 94–96 miles per hour (151–154 km/h)), acutter 88 mph (142 km/h), and an "inconsistent" curveball that sometimes loops and other times is sharp and averaged 77 mph (124 km/h).[141] Prior to developing his cutter, he briefly threw atwo-seam fastball around 2008 and 2009, before debuting his cutter in 2010.[137][141] Once he obtained a "feel" for how to effectively throw his cutter, it helped him increase hisgroundball rate to 52.3 percent in 2011.[142][141]
Hamels is ofDutch descent[143] and is the oldest of three children. He grew up in San Diego, where his parents still live. He and reality television personalityHeidi Strobel, a contestant onSurvivor: The Amazon, married on December 31, 2006.[144] They lived with their children in aNewtown Square, Pennsylvania home that they built in 2014, but later put up for sale in 2021.[145] They owned a home inSouthlake, Texas.[146] The family built a home inBranson, Missouri, but instead chose to relocate to Texas, and they then donated their Missouri home to Camp Barnabas, a camp for children with special needs.[147]
In October 2009, he appeared in an advertisement forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 titled "Fight Against Grenade Spam" onYouTube. In the video, he delivers apublic service announcement that advocates against the use of grenadespam. Hamels usesprofanity in the video, calling grenade spam "forpussies", and says "what the fuck" when he is blown up with grenades.[148][149] Multiple game journalists, including Phillip Kollar ofGame Informer, criticized the title'sacronym,F.A.G.S. (a pejorative term forgay people) as condoning the use of homophobic slurs.[150][151] Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling claimed the video was intended as asocial commentary joke about the "gamer" stereotype, but ultimately decided to remove the video from YouTube after being convinced the joke went too far.[152]
The Hamelses formed the Hamels Foundation in 2009 as a non-profit with a mission of uplifting the lives of children, families, and communities across the globe through the power of education.[144][153] The Hamels Foundation funded childhood programs in Philadelphia and Africa.[154] After he resigned from the organization in 2021, it was re-named as "Uplift Malawi" with a new focus on building sustainable schools inMalawi.[155]
In 2017, the Hamelses donated their 32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) Missouri home, valued at an estimated $10 million, to Camp Barnabas, a Christian charity that runs camps for children with special needs and chronic illnesses.[156] Hamels said in a statement, "There are tons of amazing charities in Southwest Missouri. Out of all of these, Barnabas really pulled on our heartstrings. Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it. Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way."[156]
Hamels and his wife officially divorced in 2024.[citation needed]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Steve Carlton | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hit game September 1, 2014 (withDiekman,Giles &Papelbon) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher July 25, 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | National League Pitcher of the Month August 2018 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
