After a rough 2024 season, right-handed pitcher Dom Hamel knew adjustments were necessary.
Struggling with command, issuing too many walks, and posting an ERA over 6.00, Hamel needed a reset.
“He just wasn’t throwing enough strikes,” Syracuse Mets manager Dick Scott said. “His delivery was a bit too deliberate.”
During the offseason, Hamel simplified his mechanics, eliminating a high leg kick to better control his pitches.
The last time Hamel had two consecutive scoreless outings was back in 2023. Now looking to move forward in 2024, the 26-year-old acknowledges that growth as a player means not getting too caught up in the ups and downs of a season.
“Junior college Dom would be thrilled,” he said. “But this is just my second start. I’m aiming for 24 or 25 starts—and maybe even a call-up. I’m thinking long-term.”
Syracuse will continue its series against Buffalo with a Friday doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m.
**Cats at the Park**
NBT Bank Stadium hosted its inaugural “Dollar Purrsday,” where cats and their owners strolled the field half an hour before the game. Each cat was spotlighted on the scoreboard and introduced by name.
Alexis Mitchell, 69, from Cato, brought her 26-pound Maine Coon named Ron Weasley. His reddish fur mirrored that of the Harry Potter character he was named after.
“My granddaughter named the whole litter after Harry Potter characters,” Mitchell shared. “They were all red—Ron Weasley, Charlie Weasley, and George. We named them after the Weasley family.”
Zoodles, a mix of American Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Russian Blue, showed up as a stray on a porch in Cooperstown eight years ago. Rachel, 32, who was working at Noodles & Company at the time, hadn’t intended to adopt a cat—but Zoodles never left.
“It feels effortless now,” Hamel said. “Compared to where I was last year, it’s a big improvement and helps me stay consistent.”
In his second start of the season, Hamel added three more scoreless innings, extending his shutout streak to eight. He struck out five, gave up two hits, and walked one in Syracuse’s 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons.
After being sidelined with a blister on his pitching hand, Hamel returned from the seven-day injured list Thursday with a pitch count restriction. In his April 2 start, he threw five shutout innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Scott acknowledged that under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have pulled the 2021 third-round pick so early, but both he and Hamel are mindful of the long season ahead.
“Of course I want to keep going,” Hamel said. “But over time, you realize it’s about longevity. Sometimes you just have to stick to the pitch count.”
Syracuse plated both of its runs in the first inning with back-to-back RBI singles.