The Marlins have outrighted outfielder Billy Hamilton to Triple-A Jacksonville and optioned outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to Jacksonville, tweets Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. That pair of moves makes room for infielder/outfielders Jon Berti and Brian Anderson to be reinstated from the injured list.
That Hamilton has already been outrighted to Triple-A indicates that he passed through waivers unclaimed. Given the time of year and the number of teams that could view him as a vital defensive replacement/pinch-runner late in the season, that’s a bit of a surprise. That said, Hamilton also has the ability to reject this assignment in favor of free agency, which would allow him the opportunity to potentially latch on with a contender.
Hamilton, 31, appeared in 20 games with the Marlins but, reflective of the role in which he’ll most often find himself at this point in his career, logged just 15 plate appearances. The former top prospect averaged 57 steals per season with the Reds from 2014-17 and has long been regarded as one of the best defensive players in the sport, regardless of position. His offense has never matched the baserunning and defensive value, however, and his typically pedestrian output at the plate has dwindled even further in recent years.
Dating back to the 2019 season, the switch-hitting Hamilton is a .209/.266/.293 hitter in 241 plate appearances. Though he had a knack for putting the ball in play early in his career, he’s fanned in nearly 37% of his plate appearances over the past two seasons.
That said, Hamilton has gone 16-for-16 in stolen bases over the past two seasons and is 321-for-392 (81.9%) in his career. He’s also racked up a whopping 74 Defensive Runs Saved and 59 Outs Above Average to go along with a 57.9 Ultimate Zone Rating in 6865 career innings in the outfield (nearly all coming in center).
The end of an error
What? There goes the Marlins shot in 2022
What? There goes the Marlins 2022 shot
What’s going on with this site? I post, hit save & nothing. I post again & now I have 2 posts? WTH? And then I can’t edit anything…double your pleasure, double your fun
Same problem, Curly, and I’ve mentioned it to Tim. Just started happening a few weeks ago and I see it happening for other posters, too.
Thanks Pete, I thought I was having a senior moment…
If the writer of the story mutes you, you can’t post to the article. @Pete’sView and Curly, have Steve unmute you.
Hey fellas I can’t hear anything!Whats the matter?Im not listening!
Sure would be nice to have him be the guy you start on 2nd base in the 10th…
Billy did his thing: 7 steals and 1 hit…
Billy Hamilton and Jackie Bradley are just about the same two players. Neither can hit, both can run but you need hits to get on base. Why teams keep recycling these guys makes no sense.
Jackie does not have the pure speed Hamilton does. Unfortunately it seems plate discipline can no longer be taught as with both players skill sets and lack of ability to hit learning to draw walks and lay down bunts probably would have changed both players for the better
Exactamente!
May run like willie mays but hits like a little leaguer
Saw Billy tag and score from 3rd once in Cincinnati, on a short pop fly to right that was maybe 30 ft. off of the dirt…it was amazing!
I saw Billy steal all of the bases and almost threw himself out at home he was so fast.
Guys like these need to attend Juan Pierre University. Learn how to make contact, bunt, keep the ball on the dirt.
Team after team pick him up and give him a shot probably thinking just that – if we can get him to put the ball in play we’ll be in business. If it hasn’t happened by now it isn’t gonna happen.
I thought this guy was going to be the next Gary Redus.
Big White Sox fan, Billy is great, in a word this years Sox team is unlikeable
Surprised White Sox did not put on a claim. He will be on a playoff team. I believe the deadline is August 31. Watch and see.
Fast on the bases and fast to be back in AAA.
I feel as if the Marlins were the last team he needed to cut him in order to complete a full MLB tour.
Cardinals should bring him in now that Bader is gone.
Oh boy, here we go….
Those glasses alone are reason enough to axe him
When rosters expand some team is gonna sign Billy, i.e. if he elects to be a FA. Might as well, one way or another he’s gonna be a FA at season’s end so why not elect to do so now?
If he has to wait until September 1st before a team signs him he won’t be playoff eligible. No biggie. A team may look at Billy as someone who could help them win a game or two with his legs and his glove and make the playoffs. Probably wouldn’t be needed in the playoffs.
Always liked him. Seems like a good guy who would be a positive in the clubhouse. Possible landing spots, and in no particular order, might be Brewers, Cardinals, Braves, ChiSox and Rays.
The only team that thinks he might help them is a team that hasn’t already tried that nonsense and learned better. Enough with this guy already.
The man can’t hit. Never could, never will, and that seems to be a reality that all these teams think they can live with until reality sets in.
I’d want him in the playoffs to be the runner on second if if a game goes into extra innings.
The runner on 2nd base in extra innings does not apply in the playoffs. It hasn’t been used in the playoffs since they started implementing it in the regular season. Only a regular season rule.
Not needed on the Brewers, we already have Mr. .180 Davis !
The dude is Freaky Fast with an increadible glove in the outfield. He made so many unbelievable plays when he was with the Reds. For such a small guy, he had some pop in his bat if and when he made contact. It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t consistently hit. Such a likeable guy.