Colorado native J.D. Hammer notches first Cal League save

22-year-old J.D. Hammer notched his first Cal League save last night in Lancaster’s 9-6 victory. Hammer, a Fort Collins native, was recently called up to High-A after an outstanding first two months in Asheville to start the year.

As Asheville’s best reliever, Hammer struck out 47 batters in 30 innings while only walking five. That strikeout stuff has carried over early into the next level, with Hammer striking out the side last night to close out the contest.

The former 24th round pick is utilizing a very good slider to get batters out and his elite K rate in the lower levels may be a huge indication the Rockies found a gem in the late rounds with the right handed Hammer.

The only drawback to Hammer’s season so far has been that he doesn’t have a curveball we can call “Hammer’s Hammer”. An unfortunate development for any who place “nickname probability” into their scouting reports (me).

Other news and notes from the affiliates are below:

Triple-A: Fresno Grizzlies 7, Albuquerque Isotopes 6 (10)

Ryan McMahon (No. 7 PuRP): 2-for-4, RBI

Rosell Herrera: 2-for-3, 2 BB

Ryan Carpenter: 6 IP, 7 K, 2 R

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 7, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 6

Brendan Rodgers (No. 1 PuRP): 2-for-5

Parker French: 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 8 H, 6 R (4 ER)

Brian Mundell (HM PuRP): 1-for-2, BB, R

Single-A Advanced: Lancaster JetHawks 9, Inland Empire 66ers 6

Peter Lambert (No. 11 PuRP): 6 IP, 4 K, 3 R

J.D. Hammer: IP, 3 K, S

Garrett Hampson (No. 22 PuRP): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B

Single-A: Asheville Tourists 5, Greenville Drive 4

Manuel Melendez: 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI

Jacob Bosiokovic: 1-for-4, HR

Bryan Baker: 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 R

Class-A Short Season: Boise Hawks 8, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 2

John Valek: 6 IP, 1 R

Will Haynie: 3-for-4, 2B, 3B

Rookie: Grand Junction Rockies 9, Idaho Falls Chukars 4

Shael Mendoza: 4-for-5, RBI

Ryan Vilade (Debut): 2-for-4, HR

Chad Spangenberger: 2-for-5, HR

Dominican Summer League: DSL Angels 8, DSL Rockies 5

Enrique Saldana: 2-for-4

Daniel Montano: 1-for-4, RBI

Tuesday Probables:

Triple-A Albuquerque: Matt Flemer (2-5, 7.03 ERA) vs Fresno

Double-A Hartford: Ryan Castellani (5-6, 5.61 ERA) vs. Binghamton

Single-A Advanced Lancaster: TBD vs. Inland Empire

Single-A Asheville: Brandon Gold (4-5, 4.45 ERA) vs. Greenville

Single-A Short Season Boise: Rico Garcia (0-1, 2.79 ERA) vs. Salem-Keizer

Rookie Grand Junction: TBD vs. Idaho Falls