Unheralded Red Sox Prospect Leads Organization In Home Runs Amid Breakout Season
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The Boston Red Sox have an enticing prospect with a rare combination of speed and power that has led to a breakout season with Triple-A Worcester.
Boston's No. 27 prospect according to MLB Pipeline does not have much fanfare outside of New England but has come on strong to start the season, providing some pop he previously had not possessed.
The player worthy of recognition is middle infielder David Hamilton, who leads Red Sox minor leaguers with nine home runs despite being listed at just 5-foot-10, 175 pounds.
Hamilton is hitting .271 with 18 extra-base hits including the aforementioned nine homers, 21 RBIs and a .893 OPS in 37 games. The 25-year-old also already has 21 steals in 25 attempts for the WooSox.
Last season the speedster recorded a franchise-record 70 stolen bases for Double-A Portland.
While speed has always been a key component of Hamilton's game, the encouraging signs of power are brand new. He entered this season with 20 home runs in 220 career at-bats (a home run every 11 games).
Hamilton logged eight home runs in his rookie season in 101 games and 12 home runs last season in 119 games. He's on pace to shatter those numbers while hitting for a higher average and stealing just as many bags as he's accustomed to -- all in his first season at Triple-A.
Hamilton would be a valuable asset for the Red Sox -- who could use an upgrade at shortstop -- but has one issue that he cannot change, he's a left-handed hitter.
Boston already has eight left-handed hitters on the big-league roster and cannot afford to add another. It would likely take an injury to a left-handed hitter before Hamilton could even be considered for a call-up.
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