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Christopher (Chris) Andrew Hammond (born January 21, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a left handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. more...

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Hammond was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 1986 amateur draft. Hammond had not sustained considerable success until his revival as a relief pitcher with the 2002 Atlanta Braves. Chris Hammond's career has gone through two distinct phases, one as a struggling starting pitcher/swing-man and one as a reliever. Chris Hammond uses techniques common to junk-baller or finesse pitchers. His pitches include the changeup (Hammond's ranges from 58 - 71 mph), his mostly flat slider, and his low 80s 4-seam fastball. Hammond is also a relatively good left-handed hitter because of his career .202 batting average, .285 on-base percentage, and four career home runs.

Cincinnati Reds

Hammond first appeared in the Major Leagues in 1990 where he pitched three games for the Reds. The following season was his official rookie season and he started 18 games and went 7-7 with a respectable 4.06 ERA. His career with the Cincinnati Reds would come to a close in late March 1993 as he was traded to the Florida Marlins for Hector Carrasco and Gary Scott.

Florida Marlins

Hammond was a member of the inaugural Florida Marlins team that began play in Major League Baseball in 1993. Hammond had an eventful career with the Florida Marlins. In his inaugural season as a Marlin, he hit two home runs (one a pinch-hit grand slam), and pitched his way to 4.66 ERA in 191.0 innings. In 1994, he experienced somewhat more success (a 3.07 ERA) in a season shortened by injuries. After a mediocre 1995 season, Chris Hammond's career seemed to hit a nosedive. His first stint with the Florida Marlins would end in 1996, where he totaled a 6.56 ERA and would face a demotion to the bullpen.

Boston Red Sox

Chris Hammond would sign with the Boston Red Sox in 1997 in order to return to his role as a starter. Instead, Hammond would have yet another disappointing season as a relief pitcher. In an interview in Yankees' magazine during 2002, Hammond revealed that the Red Sox offered this promise as a ruse to sign him. While Hammond's career was seemingly reaching its end, the Florida Marlins would win the 1997 World Series.

Return and Retirement

Chris Hammond would have a comeback attempt in 1998. After being signed to a contract by the Kansas City Royals, he would be granted his release towards the end of Spring Training. Once again, alike 1993, the Florida Marlins obtained him in the nick of time. Hammond would return to the Major Leagues for three starts, gaining a 6.56 ERA in 13.2 innings. After this brief comeback attempt, Chris Hammond would undergo shoulder surgery and retire for the first time. Hammond had earned over five million dollars in his playing career to this point, and returned to a quiet family life back in Georgia. He would purchase a 200+ acre horse-ranch with a 60-acre lake where he would routinely go fishing. Despite enjoying his retirement, Hammond would return to baseball in 2001 at the request of his wife and children.

Read more at Wikipedia.org