David Hamilton Has Old School Appeal

When the Brewers drafted shortstop David Hamilton in the eighth round in 2019, he entered pro ball with a significant question about his elite speed:

Would it return after surgery to repair a torn Achilles suffered in a scooter accident that wiped out his junior season at Texas?

It took a while for him to provide that answer. Hamilton spent 2019 rehabbing, and then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season. But he hit the ground running in 2021, when he finished fifth in the minors with 52 steals.

Hamilton’s display of speed, defense at both middle infield spots, athleticism and contact skills combined with on-base ability in the Brewers’ system as well as the Arizona Fall League landed Hamilton on Boston’s radar.

The Reds Sox acquired the 24-year-old along with third baseman Alex Binelas and Jackie Bradley Jr. from the Brewers for Hunter Renfroe in December.

Hamilton showed old-school top-of-the-order skills that have a less obvious profile now. The lefthanded batter hit .258/.341/.419 with eight home runs in 101 games for High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi.

Despite the low power numbers, he did show strength in his swing that could translate to more frequent gap liners and perhaps double-digit homer totals as he develops.

“I think there’s some more in there that will be on tap in his development the next few years,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson, who also managed Hamilton in the AFL. “I think the power numbers will go up for him a little bit, as well as being able to really demonstrate great swing decisions and zone management to get on base.”

Hamilton showed good lateral range at shortstop but an arm that was fringy for the position. He should continue to play both short and second base in the minors.

Many evaluators believe Hamilton has a solid floor of a big league reserve, and there’s a chance he could emerge as a versatile regular at the bottom of the order.

SOX YARNS

— Triston Casas led qualifying Arizona Fall League hitters with a .495 on-base percentage.

— Ceddanne Rafaela, who was introduced to the outfield with Low-A Salem in 2021, was named the organization’s minor league defensive player of the year, with Red Sox officials describing him as the best defensive outfielder in the system in years.