Triple-digit stolen base totals are a thing of the past in the major leagues and are becoming increasingly rare in the minor league ranks. But baseball’s long history is filled with players who have bucked trends, and achieved great success in doing so.
Enter Billy Hamilton, the Reds’ top infield prospect.
A second-round pick in 2009, Hamilton reached the 100-steal plateau Saturday in Single-A Dayton’s 4-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts. He is the first minor league player to reach the mark since 2001 and the first player in the history of the Reds organization to steal more than 90 bases in a single season.
Hamilton’s bat needs work. He’s hitting just .278/.339/.360 in 134 games this season and striking out far too often. But he might be the fastest player in the sport, and that tool alone could carry him to the top.
