Wochit
No center fielder plays closer to the plate than Billy Hamilton.
Others play pretty far back. Texas Rangers center fielder Carlos Gomez starts at an average distance of 331 feet from home. Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier – considered one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball – begins just two feet closer.
Hamilton starts at 298, according to Statcast data. No other center fielder creeps inside 300 feet.
There are various reasons, of course. Great American Ball Park does not have a big outfield, so playing back offers limited reward.