Robby Hammock

Robby Hammock
Hammock with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009
Altoona Curve
Manager
Born: (1977-05-13) May 13, 1977 (age 47) Macon, Georgia, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 2003, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 2011, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
Batting average	.254
Home runs	12
Runs batted in	48
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
As player Arizona Diamondbacks (2003–2004, 2006–2008, 2011) As coach Arizona Diamondbacks (2017–2021)

Robert Wade Hammock (born May 13, 1977) is an American professional baseball former catcher and current manager of the Altoona Curve. He was formerly a longtime player and later quality control and catching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Playing career

Hammock played baseball at South Cobb High School,^[1] and later for DeKalb College and the Georgia Bulldogs.^[2]

Hammock was drafted three times: in 1995 by the Florida Marlins, in 1997 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and in 1998 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played five seasons at various minor league levels from 1998 to 2002. In 2003, he played in 65 games for the major league club, batting .282 and starting 28 games at catcher. His numbers were good enough to earn him a place on the 2003 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster. Hammock was the third catcher behind Chad Moeller and Rod Barajas for Arizona in 2003.

Along with Matt Kata, Alex Cintrón, Brandon Webb, and others, he was one of the "Baby Backs" who were called up when a surge of injuries hit Diamondbacks veteran players in 2003. The Baby Backs were popular and contributed to a winning season, but ultimately failed to make the playoffs.^[3]

In 2004, Hammock made two brief minor league stops before rejoining the Diamondbacks. He played in 62 games, starting 46 at catcher and hit .241 with 16 doubles that season. On May 18, 2004, he caught Randy Johnson's perfect game.^[4]

Hammock did not appear in a major league game in 2005, and only played in three games for the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders. He was on the roster for the 2006 Sidewinders, in which he played multiple positions. He was called up after the Sidewinders won the Pacific Coast League Championship game, and appeared in only one game.

Hammock was non-tendered following the 2008 season, and became a free agent.^[5] On January 12, 2009, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Baltimore Orioles.^[6]

On February 1, 2010, Hammock signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.^[7] On April 3, 2010, Hammock was traded to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later.^[8] Hammock signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks for the 2011 season. He spent most of the year with the Reno Aces, observing manager Brett Butler.^[9]

Coaching career

Arizona Diamondbacks organization

Hammock began his coaching career in the D-Backs' minor-league system as hitting coach of the Arizona League Diamondbacks in 2012,^[9][10] then in 2013 was manager of the Missoula Osprey.^[9][11] The following year, he managed the Visalia Rawhide.^[12] In 2015 and 2016, Hammock managed the Mobile BayBears.^[13][14]

In November 2016, Hammock was named as quality control/catching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[15][16] He retained the role for the 2018 through 2021 seasons.^[17][18]

In October 2018, Hammock was named the manager of the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League.^[19]

San Diego Padres organization

In 2022, Hammock was the hitting coach for the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres.^[18][20]

Pittsburgh Pirates organization

Hammock was the manager of the 2023 Greensboro Grasshoppers, High-A affiliate for the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[21]

Starting in 2024, Hammock was named the manager of the Altoona Curve.^[22][23][24]

References

1. "Curve manager named". Altoona Mirror. January 23, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
2. "Catching Up With Major Leaguer Robby Hammock". Georgia Bulldogs. September 12, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
3. Zeiger, Dan (August 9, 2004). "In 2003, 12 D-Backs posed for a calendar. Almost all have suffered through adversity this season, raising the question: Is there a curse?". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
4. Gilbert, Steve (January 13, 2016). "Hammock reflects on perfection at Fantasy Camp". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
5. D-backs do not tender 2009 contracts to four
6. Jeff Zrebiec (January 12, 2009). "Orioles ink J. Cabrera, Hammock to minor league deals". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
7. Renck, Troy E. (February 1, 2010). "Rockies in running for reliever Gregg". Denver Post. Retrieved March 31, 2024. The Rockies signed pitcher Damian Moss and catcher Robby Hammock to minor-league contracts.
8. Borzi, Pat (April 3, 2010). "Yankees Set Roster". The New York Times.
9. Gilbert, Steve (January 14, 2014). "Hammock finding his niche as manager in Minors". Retrieved March 31, 2024.
10. "D-backs announce Minor League coaching staff". MLB.com. November 11, 2011.
11. Bettencourt, Andrew (March 31, 2014). "The Boys are back". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
12. "2014 Rawhide Roster Announced". MLB.com. March 29, 2014.
13. Bettencourt, Andrew (April 3, 2015). "Rawhide begins new season in Visalia". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
14. Stephenson, Creg (January 16, 2016). "Robby Hammock to return as Mobile BayBears manager in 2016". AL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
15. Piecoro, Nick (November 17, 2016). "Arizona Diamondbacks name Ron Gardenhire bench coach". Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
16. "Diamondbacks hire former Twins manager as bench coach". USA Today. Associated Press. November 17, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
17. "D-backs announce 2018 coaching staff". MLB.com. October 26, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
18. "Padres announce 2022 Minor League coaching staffs". MLB.com. January 22, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
19. Buchanan, Zach. "'It's everything for us': Inside the wild roller coaster..." The Athletic. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
20. "Chihuahuas Announce 2022 Manager and Coaching Staff". MILB.com. January 18, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
21. "Pirates Announce Hoppers 2023 Coaching Staff". MILB.com. December 21, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
22. "Manager Robby Hammock to lead 2024 Altoona Curve". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
23. Mozes, Jon (January 22, 2024). "Robby Hammock Named Altoona Curve Manager for 2024 Season". MILB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
24. DiPaola, Jerry (January 22, 2024). "Pirates announce several staff changes, name Robby Hammock new manager in Altoona". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved March 31, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)