Billy Hamilton (baseball, born 1990) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Hamilton |
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Hamilton with the Kansas City Royals in 2019
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| Charros de Jalisco – No. 6 | |||
| Center fielder | |||
| Born: September 9, 1990 Taylorsville, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 3, 2013, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Batting average | .239 | ||
| Home runs | 24 | ||
| Runs batted in | 189 | ||
| Stolen bases | 326 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Billy Rayshun Hamilton (born September 9, 1990) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a center fielder for the Charros de Jalisco team in the Mexican League. Before this, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox.
Billy Hamilton is famous for his incredible speed. He holds a special record in Minor League Baseball for stealing 155 bases in one season. This was 10 more than the old record! He also set a record for the Cincinnati Reds for most stolen bases by a new player (rookie) in a season. From 2014 to 2017, he stole more bases than any other player in MLB. He was also third in stolen bases among all MLB players in the 2010s.
Contents
Meet Billy Hamilton: The Speedy Baseball Star
Early Life and Amazing Talent
Billy Hamilton grew up in Taylorsville, Mississippi. He went to Taylorsville High School. There, he was a top athlete in three sports: baseball, football, and basketball. He was so good at football that he planned to play college football at Mississippi State University.
Becoming a Pro Player
The Cincinnati Reds picked Billy Hamilton in the second round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. This was the start of his professional baseball journey.
Minor League Adventures
Before the 2011 season, Baseball America magazine said Billy was one of the top 50 young players in baseball. That year, playing for the Dayton Dragons, he did something amazing. He became only the 12th minor league player ever to steal 100 bases in a season! He finished 2011 with 104 stolen bases.
In 2012, Billy kept breaking records. On August 21, he stole his 146th base of the season for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. This broke the old record set by Vince Coleman in 1983. Billy finished the 2012 season with an incredible 155 stolen bases!
After 2012, the Reds decided Billy would change positions. He used to play shortstop, but he moved to center field. This was because the team already had other good shortstops.
Making it to the Major Leagues
The Reds brought Billy Hamilton up to the major leagues on September 2, 2013. He made his first MLB appearance the very next day. He came into the game as a pinch runner, which means he ran for another player. He immediately stole second base and then scored a run!
On September 18, 2013, Billy made his first start in an MLB game. He played center field. In his first time at bat, he got his first major league hit, a double! He also got his first run batted in (RBI). In that game, he reached base five times and stole four bases! He was the first player since 1920 to steal four bases in his very first MLB start. He was successful in his first 13 attempts to steal a base.
In 2014, Billy Hamilton became a regular player for the Cincinnati Reds. On September 2, he set a new team record. With his 55th stolen base, he broke the Reds' record for most stolen bases by a rookie. Even with this, he was second in MLB for stolen bases that year. He was also considered for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his great defense. He finished second in the award for the best new player (Rookie of the Year).
Billy continued to show off his speed in 2015. He stole six bases in the team's first three games. This matched a record set by Vince Coleman in 1987. He then stole a seventh base in the next game, again matching Coleman's record for the first four games of a season. He ended the season with 57 stolen bases.
On May 4, 2017, Billy stole his 200th career base! He had a great year, setting personal bests for runs scored, hits, and triples. He also stole 59 bases. In 2018, he led all National League outfielders with 12 assists, which means he helped get 12 players out.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time with the Reds, Billy Hamilton played for several other MLB teams.
Kansas City Royals
In December 2018, Billy signed with the Kansas City Royals. He played for them in 2019.
Atlanta Braves
Later in 2019, Billy joined the Atlanta Braves. Between the Royals and Braves that year, he stole 22 bases.
San Francisco Giants
In February 2020, Billy signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He did not play any major league games for them.
New York Mets
In August 2020, the Giants traded Billy to the New York Mets. He played a few games for them. In one game, he came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second base because of a balk (a pitching mistake).
Chicago Cubs
A few days later, Billy was claimed by the Chicago Cubs. In 2020, between the Mets and Cubs, he stole six bases.
Cleveland Indians
In February 2021, Billy signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. However, he was released before the season started.
Chicago White Sox
Soon after, in March 2021, Billy signed with the Chicago White Sox. He hit his first home run for the White Sox on May 29, and another one the very next day! In 2021, he stole nine bases without being caught.
Miami Marlins
In June 2022, Billy signed with the Miami Marlins. He played a few games for them and stole seven bases without being caught.
Minnesota Twins
In August 2022, Billy signed with the Minnesota Twins. He played a few games and stole three bases.
Chicago White Sox (Second Time)
In December 2022, Billy signed with the Chicago White Sox again. He played some games in 2023, but then had to go on the injured list because of a hamstring injury.
Tampa Bay Rays
In August 2023, Billy signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played well in Triple-A, hitting .300 and stealing five bases.
Mexican League
In 2024, Billy Hamilton moved to the Mexican League. He first played for the Olmecas de Tabasco. Then, in May 2024, he signed with the Charros de Jalisco. He has been playing well for the Charros, hitting .283 and leading the league in stolen bases with 37!
Images for kids
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Hamilton with the Kansas City Royals in 2019
