Billy

Hamilton

Hamilton heads back to the open market following a brief six-game late-season cameo for Triple-A Iowa. The 35-year-old speedster was brought in by the Cubs as a potential pinch-running specialist for their postseason run but didn’t end up making Chicago’s playoff roster. His game-changing speed gives him some lingering appeal as a pinch-running threat in the mold of a Terrance Gore for contenders.

One of the most electrifying stolen base threats in recent memory, Hamilton never turned into the true game-changing impact contributor fantasy managers envisioned. However, he still managed to piled up 326 thefts across an 11-year period from 2013-2023. The 34-year-old speedster could be a potential pinch-running specialist on Chicago’s postseason roster in the mold of someone like Terrance Gore or Quintin Berry.

Hamilton makes plenty of sense for the Rays as a Terrance Gore-esque pinch-running specialist on their postseason roster. The 32-year-old speedster was released last week by the White Sox and didn’t take long to find a new home. He’ll likely head to Triple-A Durham for a few weeks before being an option at some point in September.

Hamilton got into three games this season for the White Sox and has been cut loose after batting .147/.261/.253 with one homer and three stolen bases across 89 plate appearances over 28 games for Triple-A Charlotte. The 32-year-old speedster might be able to latch on somewhere as a pinch-running specialist, but that’s pretty much it at this stage of his career.

Hamilton has wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment and will remain at Triple-A Charlotte, unless he chooses to elect free agency instead of accepting the outright assignment. The 32-year-old speedster has gotten into three games this season in the majors for Chicago.

Hamilton landed on the injured list back in early May with a left hamstring strain and will likely need at least a few games at the Triple-A level before he’s ready to return. The 32-year-old speedster has two stolen bases in three games this season in the majors.

Hamilton was 0-for-2 with two steals since being called up a week ago.

Hamilton will join the White Sox for Tuesday’s series opener against the Twins after hitting .188/.328/.271 with three stolen bases in 17 games this season for Triple-A Charlotte. The 32-year-old speedster signed with Chicago last December on a minor league deal after getting into 31 games last year between the Twins and Marlins.

With this batch of cuts the White Sox are now down to 33 players remaining in big league camp. Hamilton brings a strong element of speed and defense to the table, but he flailed his way to a miserable .069/.156/.103 slash line with zero RBI, three swipes and a 10/3 K/BB ratio in 29 Cactus League at-bats.

Hamilton got into 31 games last year between the Marlins and Twins, tallying just one hit in 20 at-bats. However, he did manage to rack up 10 stolen bases during that span. The 32-year-old veteran speedster remains a legitimate weapon on the base paths, but he’s more of a defensive specialist and pinch-running threat, rather than a viable everyday option, at this stage of his career.