Hamilton signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hamilton was cut loose by the White Sox a week ago, but a right shoulder injury has kept him out of action in Triple-A since July 7. When healthy, the 32-year-old outfielder hasn't been very impressive with a .147/.261/.253 slash line across 89 plate appearances. Hamilton will be an option to fill a pinch-running role down the stretch.
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Billy Hamilton: Cut loose by Pale Hose
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The White Sox released Hamilton on Tuesday.
Hamilton has missed time with a hamstring injury this season, and when healthy, he had spent nearly all of his time at Triple-A Charlotte, with whom he produced a .515 OPS. The speedy 32-year-old outfielder will now look to latch on in another organization before the end of the season.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Outrighted to Triple-A
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The White Sox sent Hamilton (hamstring) outright to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hamilton began an assignment in Charlotte on June 6 while rehabbing a hamstring injury. Rather than keeping him on the MLB roster, the White Sox opted to pass Hamilton through waivers once he was healthy, and he will now remain with the team's Triple-A affiliate. The 32-year-old outfielder holds a .522 OPS through 69 plate appearances with 10 stolen bases for Charlotte this year.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Hamilton (hamstring) has been sent to Triple-A Charlotte to begin a rehab assignment, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Hamilton has been sidelined for more than a month with a strained left hamstring but is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. It's not clear how many rehab games he might require before rejoining the White Sox.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Close to starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Monday that Hamilton (hamstring) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment in a week to 10 days, Jay Cohen of the Associated Press reports.
Hamilton has been on the shelf since May 10 with a left hamstring strain. While the 32-year-old switch-hitter appears to be making strides in his recovery and could be ready to rejoin the White Sox by mid-June if he's able to head out on a rehab assignment in the next week, he's not guaranteed to have a spot on the 26-man active roster waiting for him once he's reinstated. Even if the White Sox value Hamilton's speed and defense enough to keep a spot open for him on the bench once he's healthy, he'll rarely start and will be difficult to stream for stolen bases even in AL-only leagues.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The White Sox placed Hamilton on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hamilton hasn't played on the current road trip -- even as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch runner -- and it's now apparent why. The White Sox called up Jake Marisnick from Triple-A Charlotte to provide them with another healthy body in the outfield while Hamilton is on the mend from the hamstring injury.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Swipes bag in 2023 debut
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Hamilton did not have an at-bat in Tuesday's win over the Twins but did notch a steal as a pinch runner.
Hamilton came in to run for Andrew Vaughn in the ninth inning after Vaughn led off with a walk. Hamilton quickly got himself into scoring position by stealing second but was stranded on base. The 32-year-old was called up to the big club Tuesday. He isn't expected to be in the lineup much, but his speed will provide value for the Sox in late-game situations.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Officially added to roster
Rotowire
The White Sox selected Hamilton's contract from Triple-A Charlotte.
Hamilton was batting just .188/.328/.271 with three steals in 11 games for Charlotte this season. He saw action in 71 games with the White Sox in 2021, producing a .620 OPS. Hamilton's playing time figures to be very limited.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Slated for promotion
Rotowire
Hamilton is expected to be called up from Triple-A Charlotte prior to Tuesday's game against the Twins, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hamilton has batted only .188/.328/.271 with three steals in 11 games for Charlotte this season. He figures to serve primarily as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner for the White Sox.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Moved to MiLB game
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Hamilton was reassigned to minor-league camp by the White Sox on Monday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Hamilton was trying to win a reserve spot on the Chicago bench after signing as a non-roster invite, but the outfielder will not be a part of the Opening Day roster for the White Sox. The speedy 32-year-old will likely be an outfielder for Triple-A Charlotte if he stays with the organization.
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Billy Hamilton: Signs minors deal with White Sox
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Hamilton signed with the White Sox as a non-roster invitee Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton spent time with the White Sox in 2021, slashing .220/.242/.378 across 135 plate appearances. He appeared in big-league games for the Marlins and Twins last season but only came to the plate 23 times. At this point his in career, the 32-year-old's bat isn't good enough for his speed and defense to earn him regular playing time, but it's possible he earns a bench spot.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Hamilton isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox.
Hamilton's contract was selected by the Twins on Thursday, but he hasn't yet started a game for Minnesota. Gilberto Celestino is starting in center field and batting ninth Saturday.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Called up by Minnesota
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Hamilton had his contract selected by the Twins on Thursday.
The 31-year-old inked a minor-league deal with the Twins last week, and he'll join the big club Thursday with rosters expanding to 28 players. Hamilton appeared in 20 games for Miami before being let go in mid-August and had a .220 OPS in 15 plate appearances. He'll provide another option in center field with Byron Buxton (hip) on the injured list.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Joins Twins organization
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Hamilton and the Twins agreed to a minor-league contract Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton will first join the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate while he settles in with his new organization, but a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul should come before long. The Twins will likely spend the next few weeks evaluating Hamilton in the minors before potentially summoning him to the big leagues when the roster expands to 28 men in September. At this stage of his career, the ship has sailed on Hamilton hitting well enough to be an everyday player, but his premium speed and excellent defense in center field make him an ideal bench piece.
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Billy Hamilton: Becomes free agent
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Hamilton elected free agency Saturday.
Hamilton will opt to explore his options outside the Marlins organization after he was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville last week. The 31-year-old could have some appeal to a playoff-contending team down the stretch as a speed-and-defense-oriented reserve outfielder.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Hamilton was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton's contract was selected by the Marlins at the beginning of July, and he hit .077 with nine runs and seven stolen bases over 20 games with the major-league club. However, he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of moves to clear space for the returning Jon Berti and Brian Anderson, who were reinstated from the injured list Friday.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Nabs seventh steal
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Hamilton went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Reds.
Getting a rare start in center field and batting ninth, Hamilton did what he does best the one time he was able to get on base. The veteran outfielder has seen only 11 plate appearances since joining the Marlins in early July, going 1-for-9 with four strikeouts, but he's managed to do some damage as a pinch runner by stealing seven bases and scoring eight runs -- enough production to give him some appeal as a bargain DFS option the next time manager Don Mattingly writes his name into the starting lineup.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Added to Thursday's lineup
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Hamilton was added to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton was slated to sit once again Thursday, but he'll start in center field and bat ninth after Jesus Sanchez (personal) was a late scratch. Hamilton has gone 0-for-5 with six runs, three stolen bases and two strikeouts over his last nine games.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Swipes third bag
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Hamilton stole a base and scored a run as a pinch runner in Sunday's extra-inning win over the Mets.
Garrett Cooper was set to begin the 10th inning as the phantom runner in a scoreless tie, but Hamilton replaced him and made an immediate impact with his speed, stealing third base and then coming home with the winning run on a throwing error by Tomas Nido. Hamilton has gotten only one start in seven games since joining the Marlins and has gone just 0-for-4 at the plate, but he's stolen three bases and scored four runs.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Nabs first steal as Marlin
Rotowire
Hamilton entered Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Angels as a pinch runner in the ninth inning and stole his first base of the season.
The 31-year-old hasn't lost much of his blazing speed, but Hamilton has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt over nearly 3,000 career plate appearances that he isn't a skilled enough hitter to hold down a starting job in the majors. Late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner are likely to be his primary assignments for as long as he's on the Miami roster.
