The Cincinnati Reds tried Joey Votto batting second last season because of the sabermetric idea that a team’s best player should bat second. The Los Angeles Angels let Mike Trout bat second and the Washington Nationals did the same with Bryce Harper. Unlike those two teams, though, the Reds are completely built around Votto.
For as long as Billy Hamilton is a starting outfielder for the Reds, he will bat lead-off. He needs at least one batter to steal a base whenever he gets on base. That means that Votto is not best used batting right behind Hamilton.