Minor League Baseball

Former Reds Outfielder Billy Hamilton Seeking Minor League Contract, Per Report

Billy Hamilton, who spent all of 2024 in Mexico following his time with the Reds, Royals, White Sox and others, is looking to revive his career in spring training.
Sam Connon|
Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Twins pinch-runner Billy Hamilton (0) falls as he tries to score against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Twins pinch-runner Billy Hamilton (0) falls as he tries to score against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. | David Banks-Imagn Images

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Cincinnati RedsChicago White SoxKansas City Royals

Free agent outfielder Billy Hamilton is currently seeking a minor league contract, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday morning.

Hamilton is looking to spin that potential deal into an invite to an organization's major league spring training camp. He has not appeared in an MLB game since 2023.

The 34-year-old speedster is fresh off batting leadoff for Mexico's representative in the Caribbean Series, Charros de Jalisco. After batting .251 with a .679 OPS and 75 stolen bases across 127 Mexican League and Mexican Winter League games, Hamilton made history swiping bags in the Caribbean Series.

Hamilton was once one of baseball’s most prolific base stealers, racking up 13 in his first 13 MLB games with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2013. He cleared 50 stolen bases in each of the next four seasons, totaling 230 between 2014 and 2017.

After stealing 34 bases with the Reds in 2018, he was cut loose and became a journeyman. Hamilton played for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins over the next four seasons, stealing 47 bases in 258 games.

Hamilton closed out the 2023 season on a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he did not earn a promotion, nor did he sign with a team for 2024 spring training.

Over the course of his big league career, Hamilton hit .239 with 713 hits, 24 home runs, 189 RBI, 326 stolen bases, a .617 OPS, 74 defensive runs saved and a 10.0 WAR.

Related MiLB Stories

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  • REDS INVITE COLLIER: Cincinnati has officially invited top 100 prospect Cam Collier to their major league spring training camp out in Arizona. CLICK HERE
  • KIERMAIER REJOINS BLUE JAYS: Fresh off winning the World Series with the Dodgers and announcing his retirement, Kevin Kiermaier is headed back to Toronto as a special assistant. CLICK HERE

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.