FORT COLLINS, Colo. — J.D. Hammer might have the best combo of name and appearance in the minor leagues.
Scratch that.
Make it the best in the major leagues.
The Fort Collins High School graduate was promoted to MLB with the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Hammer, 24, was drafted in the 24th round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Rockies out of Marshall University. He played his first two years of high school at Fossil Ridge and final two at Fort Collins.
The right-handed pitcher rocks the big-framed glasses, a la Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn from the movie "Major League."
The look with the last name of Hammer is memorable, but his excellent pitching has brought him to the big leagues.
Hammer — a relief pitcher — has thrown for Philadelphia's double- and triple-A teams this season, compiling a 2-0 record, 1.61 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched combined.
A high-90s fastball is his marquee pitch, and he's back healthy after battling injuries most of last season. He spent the early portion of the season in double-A and was just promoted to triple-A last week, making just one appearance with Lehigh Valley.
Read more from our partners at the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
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