Blink & You'll Miss Billy Hamilton

Blink & You'll Miss Billy Hamilton
Billy Hamilton has just gotten a small taste of the majors and could continue being a star with his sparkling speed. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Ryan Nakada
9/20/2013
Updated:
4/24/2016

Centerfielder Billy Hamilton may be the fastest player in baseball.

In 2012, Billy Hamilton set the Minor League Baseball single-season stolen base record with 155. The previous record was held by Vince Coleman with 145 and it is also 25 more than Rickey Henderson’s Major League record of 130. The stolen base record was achieved while Hamilton was a member of the Bakersfield Blaze (A+ level affiliation) and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA level affiliation).

On September 2, the 23-year-old Billy Hamilton got the call-up. He made it; he was on the Cincinnati Reds roster. On September 3, outfielder Ryan Ludwick got on base with a single in the seventh inning and Billy Hamilton would make his major league debut as a pinch-runner. It was a 0-0 game. The biggest threat to Hamilton’s speed stood behind the plate, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. On the first pitch, Hamilton would get his first major league stolen base. Yadier Molina would smirk as he put his catcher’s mask back on. Todd Frazier would hit a double into the left field corner and Billy Hamilton cruised right on and scored from second.

One of the best catchers in baseball couldn’t catch Billy Hamilton on the bases. Also, how often does a pinch-runner receive a standing ovation? That’s the kind of energy that Billy Hamilton brings with him.

In the 14th inning on September 4, Ryan Ludwick hit a single and Billy Hamilton took over as the pinch-runner. Then he does what he is known for without hesitation. He would steal second and he would score on the Zack Cozart at-bat, tying the game in extra innings. They would end up losing but Billy Hamilton is the well-known weapon that can’t seem to be stopped yet. He would be the game-winning run after pinch-running for Ryan Ludwick in the 10th inning and stealing second. He would have four stolen bases and scored three times before ever getting an at-bat.

He would go hitless in his first three at-bats but on September 18, he was put in the lineup batting in the #9 spot against the Houston Astros. In his first at-bat, he would hit a line drive to the short left field corner for a double as his first career hit. He would score on the next batter’s hit. In his next at-bat he would hit a single and steal second. He would hit another single in his third at-bat and steal second again. Then in a tie game in the ninth inning, Josh Fields did the one thing you aren’t supposed to do, walk Billy Hamilton. He would steal second base but would not get to score in that inning. He would lead off the 13th inning and got a walk again. He would steal second and would also advance on a wild pitch. Jay Bruce would hit the go-ahead double and Hamilton scored that run.

In Billy Hamilton’s first career start, he got three hits in four at-bats with his first career run batted in and he scored twice while stealing four bases. Via Elias Sports Bureau, Billy Hamilton is the first player in the live-ball era (since 1920) to have four stolen bases in his first career start.

He is a perfect nine-for-nine stolen bases and he’s confident enough to continue doing so. It will be interesting to see what role, if any; he will have should the Cincinnati Reds make the postseason. With the race so close, he could be the x-factor that makes the difference in where they finish at the end of the season. If he can continue to be more than just a speed threat, he could find himself in strong contention for a starting job in their outfield next year.

Run, Billy, run. Your speed is exhilarating for everyone in baseball and everyone is taking notice.

Yankees fan for most of my life. Has always had a love for baseball, whether it be playing it, watching it, reading about it, or writing about it. Tweet me: @adakannayr
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