| Reds minor leaguer Billy Hamilton has 154 stolen bases. (Getty Images) |
Record-setting speedster Billy Hamilton is unlikely to be called up to the Reds when rosters expand next month, general manager Walt Jocketty told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
Jocketty says that final decision not made yet on Billy Hamilton as Sept. callup, but added "probably not." More later...
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) August 29, 2012#reds
Hamilton, 21, has 154 stolen bases this season between Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. He'd certainly be an asset on the basepaths, but he currently isn't on the team's 40-man roster. The 40-man roster is currently full and the team would have to make room for him in order to call him up. It would also mean the shortstop would have to be on the 40-man roster all next year, as well. That is likely the biggest issue keeping him from the Reds.
| Billy Hamilton |
Hamilton is currently a shortstop, but many say his glove isn't ready to play at the big-league level defensively. In Zach Cozart, the Reds have a player they believe can been their long-term answer at shortstop. They team also signed second baseman Brandon Phillips through the 2017 season. A possible spot for him in the future is center field, where Drew Stubbs has yet to live up to his potential, but the big-league level isn't exactly the place to learn a new position. He would likely be used as a Herb Washington-like pinch running specialist through the rest of the season.
That's a role that could be productive. Hamilton is the fastest player in baseball and recently broke Vince Coleman's 29-year-old record for the most steals in a minor-league season (145). He currently leads both the California League (104) and the Southern League (50) in steals. Since being called up to Double-A, he's hitting .310/.429/.413 and is hitting .319/.418/.431 overall this season.
I proposed calling up Hamilton for the stretch run before the season even started, and his 2011 manager agreed with the idea. Of course, in April it was a hypothetical without the real-world implications of juggling the 40-man roster.
Hamilton is scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League, starting Oct. 9, according to a release by the league. He is listed as an outfielder on the roster for the Peoria Javelinas. According to CBSSports.com Insider, Hamilton was supposed to be listed as a shortstop on the roster, but he is also scheduled to play some in center field in the AZL.
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