The Twins have signed veteran outfielder Billy Hamilton to a minor league contract, according to multiple reporters (including The Athletic’s Dan Hayes). Hamilton elected to become a free agent earlier this month, rejecting an outright assignment to the Marlins’ Triple-A team.
Minnesota becomes the 11th different big league organization of Hamilton’s 10-year MLB career, and he has been action at the big league level with seven of those teams. Hamilton’s stint in Miami lasted 20 games and consisted of 15 plate appearances, as the Marlins mostly used him as a pinch-runner and late-game defensive replacement.
It’s safe to assume that Hamilton will be utilized in similar fashion with the Twins if he reaches their active roster, and the 31-year-old will at least provide some center field depth now that Byron Buxton has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Hamilton’s lack of hitting has turned him into a bench player in recent years, but he still brings plenty of his signature speed and excellent defense, making him a sought-after player by multiple teams.
Outfelders Buxton, Kyle Garlick, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, and Royce Lewis are all on Minnesota’s IL, with Garlick perhaps only a few days away from a return and Kirilloff and Lewis both already done for the season. Max Kepler, Nick Gordon, Jake Cave, Gilberto Celestino, and utilityman Tim Beckham comprise the Twins’ outfield options on the active roster.
Always fun to see run the bases and in the outfield.
This is why I loved Juan Pierre and think he was completely under appreciated. Career .295 hitter. About 6 200 hit seasons. 600+ stolen bases.
Very underrated. But he was around the time only homerund were important.
What about Dee Strange-Gordon
He could join his brother Nick on the roster
They could use a bullpen arm. What’s Flash doing these days?
Always fun to watch him on the bases and outfield.
Always fun to watch him run the bases and the outfield
Noticed a few Twins box scores , back to back to back in the lineup Polanco , Gordon , Beckham … all I thought to myself , Gee lot of PED guys , not sure if the pitching staff have anyone in the club too ?
Wrong Gordon bud
Billy Hamilton adds to his record of playing for 47 different franchises! Congrats!
Wow, I never thought I’d see the day that Hamilton would be an upgrade at the plate for any team, but Tim Beckham and his .080 BA have to be the worst in the league
I thought the same thing. I can’t believe Beckham is still in the leagu, in any capacity. Maybe the Independent circuit…
Surprised to see Billy Hamilton has never posted a negative bWAR in a season. That speed and defense still has real value
It doesn’t now. He is literally a career zero bWAR. That’s because, earlier in his career, when he could hit a bit, he was actually a decent player. When he could get on base, the speed had value, mostly because you could carry his bat which allowed the glove to play. It was always a fragile balance, but now that he can’t hit at all he’s useless, except as maybe a temporary emergency fourth outfielder.
He could end up in a Terrance Gore role.
And, just to be pedantic, BIlly Hamilton is literally a 10.1 career bWAR.
Not pedantic, you are totally correct. I read it wrong. Absolutely correct me when my stats are that far off.
T. Gore has his WS ring. Lets go back to the original, Herb Washington. Charles O Finley was always ahead of his time!
A lot of terrible players have WS rings, it means nothing.
You are not making a case for bwar if you think hamilton has any value.
Twins need anyone who can play the OF. Hamilton can give them a late inning pinch runner/defensive replacement down the stretch
Said every team that ever signed him just before they decide they’d rather shoot him out a cannon. There’s a reason he doesn’t ever stick with a team. He’s going to get at bats and fans will curse him up and down when he does.
If I had a chance I’d have him on a base once late in a game…but I’d confiscate his bats.
He’s a good ghost runner guy, that’s really all. But eventually he’s gonna be the last bat left and gonna have to pinch hit and it’s gonna be regrettable.
Anyone remember Otis Nixon?
That is how Hamilton should be used.
I’m sorry but this is beyond ridiculous at this point. How many teams have to try to fit him in by using exclusively his base running and fielding only to quickly realize IT DOESN’T WORK and then quickly release him before fans catch on to this? Every team learns: it. doesn’t. work.
I think you have it backwards. So many teams do it because it does work. It has limited value thougb, and is a luxury on a roster. Unfortunately, at some point, an injury occurs that forces a roster shuffle. As the 26th man on the roster, Billy’s spot is always tenuous.
It doesn’t work. If it does why does he so quickly get released? Why the fans of those teams hate him so much by that time? I watched him on the Mets. He’s terrible, the theories never work out. He never stays on a team for long for a reason.
Shame he never was able to develop a great bunt or contact to utilize his speed more
he signed a minor league contract you people think he’s already with the twins LOL
His opt-out is literally Monday. A few Twins reporters are already making it sound like he’ll be selected by then.
Good reason to check out a Saints game.
Billy Hamilton is a better player than Jarren Duran and it’s not close. Neither hit well and both can run. But the worth ethic intangible goes to Hamilton a converted shortstop who is an above average outfield defender over Duran, a converted second baseman who can’t play the outfield and shows no interest in learning.
Billy Hamilton: ha, ha, ha.