Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton's speed makes him a tough out. Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
CINCINNATI — Billy Hamilton isn’t getting any faster. But after playing 152 games last season at the big-league level, perhaps the Cincinnati Reds center fielder is a little smarter.
Hamilton was a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts during Cincinnati’s three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming just the second player since 1900 to record six steals in his first three games, the first since Vince Coleman in 1987.
Hamilton improved to 7-for-7 when he walked and stole second in the eighth inning on Friday then scored the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly.
“The one thing I wanted to do (this season) was cut down on my strikeouts,” said Hamilton, who fanned 117 times last year. “I’ll take a walk whenever I can.”
Hamilton stole 56 bases during his rookie season, but was caught a league-leading 23 times.
“I don’t think his speed’s gotten any better. I just think it comes down to he’s making better decisions on when to go,” said Reds manager Bryan Price.
Hamilton reached the major leagues last season after setting a professional baseball single-season record in 2012 with a combined 155 stolen bases between Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola.
Hamilton said he was, at times, overly eager to run during his first season. He said he’s been working on taking the right pitch, knowing when to run. And, doing his homework.
“We’ve got intelligence that’s he putting to work for him,” said Price. “It comes down to picking good spots to go.”
