Anybody know if the majority of his errors are of the fielding or throwing variety?

 

He is actually one of those guys that picks up errors on plays that many guys would never even get too...His range is incredible and that alone increases his chances for errors as he often tries making the spectacular play...He is also known for going to his side in either direction after a ball and trying to get in front of it and having it kick off his glove rather than back handidng it...

 

His range is incredible but his hands arent very soft at SS...He often has stone hands, a lot of the experts think a move to CF would really benefit him as it would "allow him to use his speed and run wild"

Most of his numbers have come at the Class A level this year, right?

 

I don't know anything about what kind of pitching environment exists in Pensacola, but he is obviously pitching well there.

 

As a general rule, there is little reason to get too excited about prospects until they have some success at Double-A.

 

Pensacolas park plays fair...He has been dominant in AA and at every level...His low to mid 90s heater is said to sneak up on hitters and have excellent movement and his command is his greatest attribute with it, he puts it where he wants...His change has been used more in AA to keep hitters honest and his slider is a work in progress

He is actually one of those guys that picks up errors on plays that many guys would never even get too...His range is incredible and that alone increases his chances for errors as he often tries making the spectacular play...He is also known for going to his side in either direction after a ball and trying to get in front of it and having it kick off his glove rather than back handidng it...

 

His range is incredible but his hands arent very soft at SS...He often has stone hands, a lot of the experts think a move to CF would really benefit him as it would "allow him to use his speed and run wild"

 

Anybody remember how many errors Barry Larkin had early in his big league career and what people thought about his fielding? He turned out to be pretty good at the position didn't he? His first season 1987 he played 119 games with 545 chances and 19 errors. His second he played 148 games with 730 chances and 29 errors. He also never won a gold glove until 1994.

Anybody remember how many errors Barry Larkin had early in his big league career and what people thought about his fielding? He turned out to be pretty good at the position didn't he? His first season 1987 he played 119 games with 545 chances and 19 errors. His second he played 148 games with 730 chances and 29 errors. He also never won a gold glove until 1994.

 

Big difference, Larkin was always viewed as a natural shortstop. Hamilton is a great athlete that they have tried to make into a shortstop. All the articles on Hamilton that speak so highly of his speed and improvement with the bat say that he is not a good shortstop. The one that nkufan linked yesterday said he had zero chance to remain at short. He already has 25 errors there in 77 games this season. The Reds already have a serviceable shortstop and have a much greater need in the outfield, they should move him there.

Big difference, Larkin was always viewed as a natural shortstop. Hamilton is a great athlete that they have tried to make into a shortstop. All the articles on Hamilton that speak so highly of his speed and improvement with the bat say that he is not a good shortstop. The one that nkufan linked yesterday said he had zero chance to remain at short. He already has 25 errors there in 77 games this season. The Reds already have a serviceable shortstop and have a much greater need in the outfield, they should move him there.

 

Exactly, good post...It's in Hamilton's best interest to be moved to the OF and the Reds best interest but they don't seem to want to do it for whatever reason...I'm thinking they may give him a few Starts out there, here and there in AA but the move won't be made until the off season with Hamilton having a chance to be the everyday CF next year out of Spring Training...He is behind Cozart, Didi and Phillips in the MIF...The following question was asked to J.J. Cooper of BA...

 

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): Would Billy Hamilton drop in the rankings if he moved off SS to CF, or would his speed there provide enoguh defensive value to mitigate going down the defensive spectrum?

 

J.J. Cooper: Hey guys, I'll jump in now. I don't Hamilton's ranking would drop significantly with a move to CF because the defensive questions are already factored into the rankings. You don't find many scouts who think that Hamilton will ever be a plus defender at SS because of his arm, and you can find a number of scouts and coaches who think that if Hamilton moved to CF he could be a Gold Glover, so while a SS is more valuable, you're talking about a potentially plus or plus-plus defender in CF versus an average or tick below-average SS.

 

And another...

In responding to a question about Hamilton turning into Joey Gathright (basically an athlete with great speed who never put it all together despite being able to jump over a car), Goldstein responded, “He’s way better than Gathright, and faster. Almost zero chance to stay at SS, and I think they should move him to CF today.” Moving Hamilton to centerfield has been a common refrain, with Ben Badler of Baseball America stating “I think the Reds will try to keep him [at shortstop], but when you have the fastest player in all of baseball, I’d just put him in center field and let his speed take over.” Matthew Eddy of Baseball America echoed similar sentiments but for a slightly different reason, stating that Hamilton is “facing a likely shift to center field if he plays his way off shortstop.”

I think one of the reasons that he hasn't been moved already has been the offensives improvement that he has shown. He's only 21 yet he has had to learn to switch hit and be a regular shortstop against professional competition. He isn't going to come up to the big league club this year, at least not until the rosters expand, so there is not an urgency for him to move to the outfield right now. Let him focus on continuing his offensives improvement as he moves up a level. He can learn the outfield in winter league ball and spring training.

Billy Hamilton's speed in context.

 

Billy Hamilton’s speed in context

 

 

Very interesting read. I can't wait til the day this guy replaces Stubbs in CF and takes over the leadoff role.

Rafael Furcal is one that made the jump from A ball to the majors. He hit . 295, and stole 40 bases as a 22 year old in 2000.

 

 

Furcal on jump from A-ball to majors: “Baseball is the same” | Atlanta Braves

 

Wasn't Furcal actually like 26 though?

Hamilton in AA. Any word on what position he is playing?

Hamilton in AA. Any word on what position he is playing?

 

SS.

SS.

Guess the CF thing is on hold.

Guess the CF thing is on hold.

 

 

Perhaps Didi Gregourius's name has been brought up in trade talks, and they want to hold off until they see what happens with him.

Perhaps Didi Gregourius's name has been brought up in trade talks, and they want to hold off until they see what happens with him.

 

I think it is a good sign that there are no plans to bring him up to the big league club this season unless it is as a September call up. No reason to make his transition to AA more difficult by asking him to learn a new position as he goes. They will most likely try and transition him to the outfield in winter ball and spring training next year.