View source for Jeffrey Hammonds

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1971)}}
{{distinguish|Jeffrey Hammond}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jeffrey Hammonds
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1971|3|5}}
|birth_place=[[Plainfield, New Jersey]], U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 25
|debutyear=1993
|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 22
|finalyear=2005
|finalteam=Washington Nationals
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.272
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=110
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=423
|teams=
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1998}})
* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|1999}})
* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|2000}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2001}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[Washington Nationals]] ({{mlby|2005}})
|highlights=
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]])
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball at the Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1991 Pan American Games|1991 Havana]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}}}

'''Jeffrey Bryan Hammonds''' (born March 5, 1971) is an American former professional [[baseball]] player. Hammonds was an [[outfielder]] and played for the [[Baltimore Orioles]] (1993–1998), [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1998–1999), [[Colorado Rockies]] (2000), [[Milwaukee Brewers]] (2001–2003), [[San Francisco Giants]] (2003–2004) and the [[Washington Nationals]] (2005) in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Before playing professionally, Hammonds played for [[Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School]] in [[Scotch Plains, New Jersey]] and [[Stanford University]].

At Stanford, Hammonds was named an [[All-America]]n. The Orioles selected Hammonds with the fourth overall selection of the [[1992 MLB Draft]]. Though he was seen as one of the best prospects in baseball, injuries limited his performance with Baltimore. After he was traded to Cincinnati and then to Colorado, he emerged with the Rockies in 2000, and was selected to appear at the [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]. He signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] that off-season, but continued to struggle with injuries. He had a resurgence with the Giants in 2003, after he was released by the Brewers, but struggled with the Giants in 2004 and Nationals in 2005 before retiring.

==Amateur career==
Born in [[Plainfield, New Jersey]], Hammonds grew up in [[Scotch Plains, New Jersey]],<ref name=kepner/> He attended [[Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School]], where he played for the school's baseball team.<ref name="scotchplains">{{cite news |last=Boswell |first=Thomas |date=August 2, 1992 |title=Hammonds Knows Talent Guarantees Nothing |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/08/02/hammonds-knows-talent-guarantees-nothing/972b2620-61b4-4ff8-9a16-a3e3d12894b1/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128020729/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/08/02/hammonds-knows-talent-guarantees-nothing/972b2620-61b4-4ff8-9a16-a3e3d12894b1/ |archive-date=2025-01-28 |access-date=2025-01-28 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=d.09}}</ref> After high school, Hammonds was a ninth-round draft pick of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in the [[1989 Major League Baseball Draft]], though he did not sign. He reported that he never considered going professional at that point, as his parents insisted he attend college, and that Hammonds' brother, who had signed with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] out of high school, suffered a career-ending injury while playing in [[minor league baseball]].<ref name=scotchplains/>

Hammonds had scholarship offers to attend [[Duke University]], the [[University of Notre Dame]], and [[Stanford University]] and play [[college baseball]].<ref name=scotchplains/> He chose to attend [[Stanford University]], where he played for the [[Stanford Cardinal baseball]] team that competed in the [[Pacific-10 Conference]] (Pac-10) in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s (NCAA) [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]]. At Stanford, Hammonds broke the Pac-10 single season [[stolen base]] record as a freshman, stealing 102 bases in 174 career games.<ref name=scotchplains/> Hammonds was awarded NCAA Freshman of the Year and voted All-[[College World Series]] in 1990 and was also named an [[All-America]]n in that year.

During the 1992 season, Hammonds batted .380 with 33 stolen bases in 47 games,<ref name="cardinal">{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Ken |date=1992-06-02 |title=Cardinal rule makes Hammonds first |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-cardinal-rule-makes-ha/164116147/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-cardinal-rule-makes-ha/164116147/ 1D], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-orioles-follow-cardina/164116241/ 5D] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and was again named an All-American.  He again led the Cardinal to the [[1992 College World Series]].<ref name="robinson">{{Cite news |last=Witrado |first=Anthony |date=2002-08-10 |title=Robinson a friend indeed |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/dwxqtynwwggpbexditeqhdemdksgtgyy_ip-10-166-46-165_1738030781913 |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |page=6C |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Draft===
Before the [[1992 Major League Baseball Draft]], Hammonds indicated that he would sign if offered a $1.8 million [[signing bonus]], which caused Hammonds to fall to the fourth overall selection, where the [[Baltimore Orioles]] selected Hammonds with their first-round draft pick.<ref name=cardinal/> [[Frank Robinson]], then the Orioles' assistant [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] (GM), met Hammonds at that year's College World Series while scouting, and advised Orioles GM [[Doug Melvin]] to pick Hammonds.<ref name=kepner/><ref name=robinson/> The Orioles, regarded as frugal, held a hard line with Hammonds in negotiations, refusing to give a signing bonus as large as $1 million.<ref name=scotchplains/>

Hammonds did not play professionally in 1992<ref name="wontplay">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Kent |date=1992-07-13 |title=Hammonds won't play in farm system until '93 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-wont-play-in/164116483/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=3D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> as he competed for the [[United States national baseball team]] in the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]]. He faced a two-month road trip across sixteen states by bus, more travel combined with training than employed by any professional team.<ref name=scotchplains/> Hammonds struggled with the national team initially,<ref name=scotchplains/> but agreed to sign with the Orioles in July 1992,<ref name=wontplay/> receiving a $975,000 [[signing bonus]], the largest of any player chosen in that draft.<ref name=kepner/> Upon signing, his hitting improved.<ref name=scotchplains/>

===Top prospect: Baltimore Orioles (1992–1996)===
Without having played a single professional game, ''[[Baseball America]]'' rated Hammonds as the 19th best prospect in baseball.<ref name="top100">{{cite web |title=All-Time Top 100 Prospects |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/all-time.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406183347/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/all-time.html |archive-date=2012-04-06 |website=Baseball America}}</ref> He made his professional debut in 1993 with the [[Bowie Baysox]] of the Class-AA [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]], where he batted .283, at which point he was promoted to the [[Rochester Red Wings]] of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Class-AAA]] [[International League]], where he batted .311.<ref name=season1993/> Hammonds received a promotion to the Orioles on June 25, becoming the first player chosen in the 1992 MLB draft to reach the majors,<ref name=kepner>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/sports/baseball/06jeter.html?pagewanted=all|title=Five Players Who Outranked Jeter, if Only Briefly|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 5, 2010|access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> where his debut was greeted with fanfare and high expectations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kent |first=Milton |date=1993-06-27 |title=A tale of 2 rookies: great expectations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-a-tale-of-2-rookies-g/164117244/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=11D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He batted .305 in 105 at-bats with the Orioles that season,<ref name="season1993">{{Cite news |date=1994-03-06 |title=Jeffrey Hammonds RF, Orioles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-jeffrey-hammonds-rf/164116989/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Palm Beach Post |page=17C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> however he suffered a pinched nerve in May,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henneman |first=Jim |date=1993-05-20 |title=Pinched nerve sidelines Hammonds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-pinched-nerve-sideline/164117356/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=7D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and a neck injury in August.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henneman |first=Jim |date=1993-08-09 |title=Hammonds headed to L.A. for neck exam |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-headed-to-la/164117462/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=6C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The Orioles ended his season prematurely to allow Hammonds to recover.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kent |first=Milton |date=1993-09-09 |title=Smith's arrival to put Hammonds on mend? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-smiths-arrival-to-put/164117581/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=6E |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Hammonds was reunited on the 1993 Orioles with former Stanford teammates [[Mike Mussina]] and [[Paul Carey (baseball)|Paul Carey]].<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Ken Rosenthal |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Ken |title=How Carey's choice became a big hit |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-06-13-1993164184-story.html |access-date=27 May 2022 |work=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 13, 1993}}</ref>

Thought of as a potential candidate for the [[American League Rookie of the Year|American League Rookie of the Year Award]],<ref name=roy/> at this point ''[[Baseball America]]'' rated Hammonds the third best prospect in all of baseball.<ref name=top100/> Hammonds suffered a knee injury during the 1994 season but opted to continue playing despite being told he needed reconstructive knee surgery, with his subsequent performances limited as a result.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenthal |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Rosenthal |date=1996-01-09 |title=In '96, Orioles' Hammonds is eager to rehabilitate his reputation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-orioles-hammonds-is-e/164117740/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-orioles-hammonds-is-e/164117740/ 1C], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-in-96-orioles-hammo/164117700/ 5C] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> When the Orioles needed to reduce their roster from 28 players to 25 in May 1995, Hammonds, who started the season batting 4-for-19, was [[option (baseball)|optioned]] back to Bowie.<ref name="roy">{{cite news |date=May 16, 1995 |title=Valenzuela survives cut; Hammonds, Jose not as lucky |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XzUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3434,80109&dq=jeffrey-hammonds&hl=en |access-date=April 28, 2012 |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |page=4C |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

After struggling with the Orioles early in the 1996 season, batting .237 in 56 games, he was demoted back to Rochester in June.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Kent |date=1996-07-19 |title=Hammonds' bat awakens at Rochester |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-bat-awakens/164117834/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=5D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The Orioles included Hammonds in numerous trade proposals that summer, but eventually held on to him.<ref name=trade1996/> During his spell with Rochester Hammonds became more selective in his approach at the plate, and was recalled to the Orioles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/08/14/hammonds-returns-more-relaxed-more-selective-outfielder-learns-patience-in-stay-at-rochester/ |title=Hammonds returns more relaxed, more selective; Outfielder learns patience in stay at Rochester |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|first=Kevin|last=Langbaum |date=August 14, 1996 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> Hammonds injured his knee in August and though he returned to the Orioles in September, they left him off their postseason roster, as they asserted that they felt Hammonds was rusty. Hammonds believed that the snub meant he should be traded, but stopped short of demanding a trade.<ref name="trade1996">{{Cite news |last=LaCanfora |first=Jason |date=1996-10-17 |title=Hammonds embraces possibility of trade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-embraces-poss/164118614/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-embraces-poss/164118614/ D1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-agent-expects-hammonds/164118686/ D4] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Searching for success: Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds (1997–1999)===
Formerly considered a top prospect in the Orioles organization, Hammonds returned to them in 1997 with his role in the organization unclear. In past [[spring training]]s Hammonds had always practiced with the starters; in 1997, the Orioles alternated him between the starters, who practiced in the stadium, and the minor leaguers and non-roster players, who practiced in fields behind the stadium near an [[airport runway]].<ref name="field of doubts"/> New GM [[Pat Gillick]] didn't deny that the Orioles could trade him if Hammonds didn't maximize his talent, though he called a potential trade a "last resort".<ref name="field of doubts">{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/02/24/its-field-of-doubts-for-some-orioles-hammonds-alexander-head-group-of-players-facing-uncertain-spring/ |title=It's field of doubts for some Orioles Hammonds, Alexander head group of players facing uncertain spring |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |first=Buster|last=Olney|author-link=Buster Olney|date=February 24, 1997 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> Despite this Hammonds had a successful season, playing in 118 games that season, receiving 397 at-bats. He scored 71 runs, had 105 hits, including 19 doubles, three triples, and 21 home runs, and recorded 55 RBI.<ref name=consistency/>

By 1998, Hammonds and the Orioles were hoping he would achieve more consistency.<ref name=consistency>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-02-27/sports/9802260514_1_jeffrey-hammonds-numbers-three-outfield-positions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213442/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-02-27/sports/9802260514_1_jeffrey-hammonds-numbers-three-outfield-positions |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |first=Craig|last=Barnes|title=Numbers In Hammonds' Favor |newspaper=[[Sun Sentinel]] |date=February 27, 1998 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> With the threat of facing a [[salary arbitration]] hearing,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kubatko |first=Roch |date=1998-02-05 |title=Hammonds, Tarasco dates set |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hammonds-tarasco-date/164118873/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=4D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> the Orioles approached him with the idea of working out an agreement on a multi-year contract extension.<ref name=consistency/> Hammonds agreed, and signed a three-year, $7 million contract before the 1998 season. Hammonds felt that this was a strong commitment from the Orioles hierarchy, including Gillick, after which <ref name=consistency/> [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Ray Miller (baseball manager)|Ray Miller]] believed that this would allow Hammonds to focus on improving his skills.<ref name=consistency/> However, Hammonds suffered a back injury that returned him to the disabled list that year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maske |first=Mark |date=July 18, 1998 |title=Ailing Hammonds Sits Again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/07/18/ailing-hammonds-sits-again/122d22d8-28c8-44be-ad62-72e75cb3fb82/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128024957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/07/18/ailing-hammonds-sits-again/122d22d8-28c8-44be-ad62-72e75cb3fb82/ |archive-date=2025-01-28 |access-date=2025-01-28 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

When Hammonds recovered, the Orioles traded him to the [[1998 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] for [[Willie Greene]] in August 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-08-09/sports/1998221121_1_hammonds-bats-orioles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051756/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-08-09/sports/1998221121_1_hammonds-bats-orioles|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=O's, Reds near Hammonds- Greene deal 3rd baseman/outfielder would give Orioles lefty bat, IF reserve|date=August 9, 1998|first=Joe|last=Strauss|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=August 11, 1998 |title=O's Trade Hammonds For Greene |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-os-trade-hamm/164119329/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |page=E03 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Hammonds originally was designated to serve as a backup outfielder for the Reds going into the [[1999 Cincinnati Reds season|1999]].  In the May 19 contest versus the [[1999 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]], Cincinnati won by a score of 24−12, tied for the fourth-highest run-scoring output in MLB history.  Hammonds hit three home runs in this game; the Reds totaled six.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gould |first=Andrew |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2698031-the-top-15-highest-scoring-mlb-games-in-history |title=The top 15 highest scoring MLB games in history |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 20, 1999 |title=National League: Roundup; 3 Homers by Hammonds Lead Parade of Scoring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/20/sports/national-league-roundup-3-homers-by-hammonds-lead-parade-of-scoring.html |access-date=July 2, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=D7 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>  
He batted .279 with 17 home runs and 41 RBIs in 123 games during the 1999 season.   After the season, the Reds traded Hammonds with [[Stan Belinda]] to the [[Colorado Rockies]] for [[Dante Bichette]] and $1.9 million to make up for the differences in salaries, as the Reds believed the slugging Bichette could aid them in replacing [[Greg Vaughn]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 1999 |title=Reds get Bichette to replace Vaughn: Cincinnati sends Jeffrey Hammonds and Stan Belinda to Colorado |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oVVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6623,9373472&dq=jeffrey-hammonds&hl=en |access-date=April 28, 2012 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |page=3G |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===All-Star season and multiyear contract: Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers (2000–2003)===
In 2000 with the [[Colorado Rockies]], Hammonds batted .335 with 20 home runs, 106 RBI, 14 stolen bases, in only 454 at bats. For his performance, he earned a spot on the 2000 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team roster.<ref name=giants0304/> He trailed only teammate [[Todd Helton]] in batting average for the majority of the season, eventually finishing with the fourth-highest batting average in the league, behind Helton, [[Moisés Alou]], and [[Vladimir Guerrero]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2000 National League Batting Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2000-batting-leaders.shtml |access-date=July 3, 2012 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

After the season, the Rockies declined to offer Hammonds [[salary arbitration]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5958895.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018225256/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5958895.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2016|title=Hit the road, Jeffrey/ Rockies decline to offer arbitration to Hammonds|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]|location=[[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]|date=December 8, 2000|first=Thomas|last=Harding|access-date=July 3, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=July 2012}}</ref> making him a [[free agent]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF459552EC79D5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |newspaper=[[Denver Post]]|title=Colorado not amenable to Hammonds' demands |first=Mike |last=Klis |date=October 5, 2000 |page=D-03|access-date=April 28, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref> Due to concerns about Hammonds' injury history, including 40 games missed due to injury in the 2000 season, the Rockies chose not to meet Hammonds' financial demands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF458F6AC0A670&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Hammonds to see what money's out there: Injury history bugs Rockies |first=John |last=Henderson|newspaper=Denver Post|date=November 1, 2000|page=D-07|access-date=April 28, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref> Before the 2001 season, the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] signed Hammonds to a three-year, $21.75 million contract, the largest contract the organization had approved to that date.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E1BBCB2643E4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Hammonds Happy to Move on, Has No Ill Will For Rockies|first=Jack |last=Etkin |newspaper=[[The Rocky Mountain News]]|date=March 12, 2001 |access-date=April 28, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref> However, injuries prevented Hammonds from approaching the All-Star form he had shown with the Rockies. He suffered a shoulder injury in 2001 which required surgery<ref name=shoulder2002/> and this limited him to 49 games played for the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0H5dAAAAIBAJ&pg=5413,5180740&dq=jeffrey-hammonds&hl=en|title=Hammonds hoping to write off horrible 2011; Year 2: Finally healthy, outfield slugger aiming to justify Brewers' $21 million investment|first=Arnie|last=Stapleton|agency=Associated Press|page=4B|date=February 26, 2002|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> He returned with a hot start in the 2002 season, batting .324 as of June 5,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hofmann |first=Dale |date=2002-06-05 |title=Hammonds starting to look like a keeper |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/kthfdkrpvurxselsfmyvebffsogvisvl_ip-10-166-46-151_1738032965116 |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |page=1C |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref> but he had a recurrence of the shoulder injury later in the season that returned him to the disabled list yet again.<ref name="shoulder2002">{{Cite news |last=Cunningram |first=Michael |date=2002-08-29 |title=Hammonds back on the shelf |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/mcsjamswtnbimxjauycjuhyktkfrstbe_ip-10-166-46-165_1738032716881 |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |page=5C |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref> Hammonds then began the 2003 season on the disabled list, this time with a high ankle sprain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030415&content_id=275441&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|first=Adam |last=McCalvy |title=Brewers notes: Hammonds on DL |work=MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media|date=April 15, 2003|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref>

===Struggles, resurgence, and injuries: San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals (2003–2005)===
The Brewers released Hammonds on June 4, 2003, after he struggled in ten games, batting .158.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/06/04/hammonds_released_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018032230/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/06/04/hammonds_released_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2013|title=Brewers release oft-injured Hammonds|magazine=Sports Illustrated|agency=Associated Press|date=June 4, 2003|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> He signed with the [[San Francisco Giants]] at the end of June. They initially assigned him to the Class-AAA [[Fresno Grizzlies]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]], before promoting him on July 30.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-07-31 |title=Hammonds gets a shot with Giants |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/kxoequepikcvgemfibfikxgskkksjobo_ip-10-166-46-120_1738033085240 |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |page=5C |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He batted .277 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 36 games during the second half of the 2003 season,<ref name=giants0304/> and was selected for the Giants' postseason roster over [[Marvin Benard]] and [[Eric Young Sr.|Eric Young]] where he batted 2-for-4 in Game 4 of the [[2003 National League Division Series]].<ref name=giants0304/><ref>{{cite news|first=Rich |last=Draper|work=MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030930&content_id=552724&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Giants notes: Hammonds aboard |date=September 30, 2003|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> Granted free agency at the end of the season, he re-signed with the Giants for the 2004 season for $1 million, as the replacement for [[Jose Cruz Jr.]], who had left after becoming a free agent.<ref name="giants0304">{{cite news |last=Draper |first=Rich |date=August 28, 2003 |title=Giants re-sign Hammonds |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031203&content_id=611600&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017184859/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031203&content_id=611600&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=2013-10-17 |work=MLB.com}}</ref> However, Hammonds was unable to sustain his improved performance and the Giants released Hammonds that June, after he batted .211 with three home runs and six RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rich |last=Draper|work=MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040604&content_id=760933&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null |title=Giants release veteran Hammonds |date=June 4, 2004 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref>

Hammonds then signed with the [[Washington Nationals]] organization on a minor league contract.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 15, 2004 |title=Mets sign Martinez |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DfIeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6833,7080327&dq=jeffrey-hammonds&hl=en |access-date=July 2, 2012 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|via=Google News |page=3C}}</ref> He started the 2005 season with the [[New Orleans Zephyrs]] of the PCL, but was recalled to the Nationals on May 3.<ref name=retire/> He batted .219 with one RBI in thirteen games for the Nationals, before returning to the disabled list with an injured hamstring on May 22. While rehabilitating the injury, Hammonds decided to retire rather than return to the minor leagues.<ref name=retire/>

Though Hammonds had great natural talent, his injuries limited his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/connollys_corner_sports_bar/ |title=The Toy Department: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar&nbsp;— Baltimore sports: Ravens, Orioles, Terps blog by Baltimore Sun reporters |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|first=Dan|last=Connolly|date=April 2, 2010 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> Hammonds announced his retirement on June 10, 2005. In his thirteen-year career in MLB, he batted .272, 110 home runs, 824 hits, and 423 RBIs.<ref name=retire>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/10/AR2005061002201.html|title=Hammonds Chooses To Retire|first=Barry|last=Svrluga |page=E.04|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 11, 2005 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Hammonds lives in [[Weston, Florida]] with his three children.<ref name=kepner/> {{As of|2012}}, he was employed as a [[Scout (sport)|scout]] for the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110505&content_id=18693108&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd|title=Hinch making impact on Padres' pro scouting|publisher=San Diego Padres|access-date=November 15, 2012|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511044830/http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110505&content_id=18693108&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has interest in [[digital media]], aiding baseball prospects, and working for the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]].<ref name=kepner/> On February 6, 2014, Hammonds was hired by the players' union as special assistant for player program development.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10413141/jeffrey-hammonds-hired-mlb-players-union | title=Jeffrey Hammonds hired by MLBPA | work=ESPN.com | agency=Associated Press | date=February 6, 2014 | access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref>

Hammonds' older brother, Reginald, played [[minor league baseball]] for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]' organization, reaching Class-AAA before suffering a career-ending injury.<ref name=scotchplains/> He enrolled at [[Northwestern University]], graduated, became a [[stockbroker]] and aided Hammonds in his 1992 contract negotiations.<ref name=scotchplains/><ref name=cardinal/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[[1992 College Baseball All-America Team]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=115394|espn=2908|br=h/hammoje01|fangraphs=687|brm=hammon002jef|retro=H/Phammj001}}

{{1990 College Baseball All-Americans}}
{{1992 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{United States baseball roster 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{1992 MLB Draft}}
{{Baltimore Orioles first-round draft picks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammonds, Jeffrey}}
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