Hammack Becoming A Student Of The Game

When you talk about the talent crop in high school baseball, Texas is one state the immediately jumps out as producing the most talent. If you are a top baseball player in Texas, chances are you will play you collegiate baseball at the University of Texas. There are not many Texans that pass on the opportunity to play for the Longhorns, and for Taylor Hammack only one thing can remove him from that dream, and that is a professional baseball contract.

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Hammack is currently ranked as the ninth best player in the state of Texas and was named to the Texas All-State First Team in 2005. As a junior, the left-handed pitcher went 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 42.2 innings of work, and averaged slightly more than two strikeouts per inning.

However, the Angleton High School product does not only contribute on the mound, but also helps his team out in the batter's box. Hammack batted .420 with six home runs and thirty-eight runs batted in as a junior and posted a .380 average with two home runs and twenty-three runs batted in as a sophomore.

Most scouts view Hammack as a pitcher in the professional ranks. Hammack currently throws a fastball, curveball and changeup. The southpaw’s fastball has topped out at 95 MPH, but is normally in the 91-93 MPH range. Hammack also features a good curveball and a developing changeup.

“If there is a pitch I would like to work on,” Hammack said, “it would have to be my changeup.”

That should not be considered as a negative in Hammack’s game since most high school pitchers with an overpowering fastball don’t often use their changeup.

“There is no need for a power pitcher in high school to use his changeup,” one Area Scout noted. “He can get by with his fastball alone.”

The Area Scout went on to say that most pitchers begin focusing on their changeup during the last two years of high school, and once you enter professional baseball.

“Our pitching coaches in the organization encourage all pitchers we draft to develop a changeup,” the scout went on to say.

Hammack’s goal for his senior season is to make it to the state finals, but also mature as a baseball player.

“I want to become a student of the game,” the left-hander said. “I want to learn more about the game, because that will give me an added edge on the mound.”

When on the mound, Hammack likes to use his competitive edge and his composure to his advantage.

“I have the mind set that nobody can touch me on the mound.”

Having committed to the University of Texas, Hammack is not concerning himself with the upcoming Major League Baseball Draft. The 6’3, 210 pound senior refuses to go crazy about the possibility of being drafted, and will let the process take care of itself.

“Right now it’s all about school,” Hammack said. “The draft is up in the air. I am going to wait and see how this year goes, and then I should have a better idea of my positioning.”

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