The Cincinnati Reds drafted Billy Hamilton out of high school as a fast right-handed hitting shortstop. Now, he is the best defensive center fielder in all of baseball. He is also an elite runner.
Entering his second off-season of arbitration eligibility, Hamilton is still looking to improve. As a 27-year old, Hamilton is the topic of many trade rumors. Last year, statistically, should have been Hamilton’s peak year.
Other teams know what they see in Hamilton, but the Reds are still hoping for more. His OBP in 2017 was .299, but he still collected 59 steals. Despite ending the season injured, this off-season has been skill set focused instead of rehabilitation focused.