Cole Hamels

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hamels arrived as a first-round pick out of Rancho Bernardo High School, where he scored a 1510 on the SAT and threw a fastball clocked at 94 mph. His path to the majors was not smooth; injuries plagued his early minor league seasons, including elbow tendinitis in 2004 and a broken hand from a bar fight in 2005. By 2006, a healthy Hamels dominated Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 1.43 ERA and 273 strikeouts before his promotion. In the majors, he faced early hurdles like a shoulder injury but returned to post strong rookie numbers. The following year, 2007, saw him become the team's number one starter after Brett Myers moved to the bullpen. He pitched his first complete game on April 21, setting a career high with 15 strikeouts, and earned an All-Star selection despite missing time with a mild left elbow strain.

In Their Own Story

The 2008 season began with tension as Hamels complained about being underpaid $500,000, calling it a "low blow" compared to his performance. Although Brett Myers opened the season as the starter, Hamels quickly took over the ace role by April, leading the team in wins and ERA. He delivered a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves on May 15. Despite strong numbers, he was snubbed from the All-Star Game. The true test came in October. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers, Hamels pitched eight spectacular two-hit shutout innings with nine strikeouts, securing his first career playoff win and the Phillies' first since 1993. He went on to win the NLCS MVP after going 2–0 with a 1.93 ERA, winning the clincher in Los Angeles. In the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Hamels started Game 1 for a 3–2 victory and took the mound again in Game 5.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Cole Hamels' time with Philadelphia, the key metrics revolve around his ascent from rookie to ace. He debuted on May 12, 2006, against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching five scoreless innings. His rookie season concluded with a 9–8 record and a 4.08 ERA. By 2007, he improved significantly, finishing 15–5 with a 3.39 ERA and 177 strikeouts. The 2008 campaign saw him post a 14–10 record with a 3.09 ERA in over 227 innings, holding the lowest on-base percentage against (.272) in the majors. He formed a formidable rotation alongside Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt, though run support was an issue in 2013. Hamels remained a consistent star for the Phillies until his trade to the Texas Rangers in 2015, where he helped spark their AL West title run.

Did You Know?

• Hamels scored a 1510 out of 1600 on the SAT, excelling academically as well as athletically in high school.
• He missed most of the 2004 season with elbow tendinitis and broke his pitching hand in a bar fight before the 2005 season began.
• In 2006 at Triple-A, he struck out 36 batters in just three games while allowing only one walk and one run.
• Hamels was paid $500,000 in 2008, barely above the minimum salary, which led him to call it a "low blow."
• He carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 16, 2007, before walking Rickie Weeks.