Blazing his Path: Cincinnati Reds Top Prospect Billy Hamilton

by Kevin Zeni

If you look at the way the game of baseball is played at the major league level today, the stolen base and speed in general isn't as prominent as it was in the 60's and 70's when players like Maury Wills would approach, and in some cases surpass, 100 steal seasons. However, Cincinnati Reds top prospect Billy Hamilton may soon change that.

After stealing 103 bases in 135 games with the Dayton Dragons of the Class-A Midwest League in 2011, the second-round pick from the 2009 draft is on pace to surpass that mark this season. Through his first 49 games this season with the Advanced-A Bakersfield Blaze, Hamilton has already swiped 55 bags, putting him on pace to break the single-season California League record of 144, set by former major leaguer Donnell Nixon in 1983, when he too was a member of the Blaze.

Assuming Hamilton maintains his current pace and refrains from injury or an in-season promotion by the Reds, the speedy shortstop is projected to steal 157 bases on the year. As it stands (as of May 31), Hamilton's 55 steals put him 35 ahead of MLB steals leader Emilio Bonifacio of the Miami Marlins, 31 ahead of AAA steals leader Anthony Gose of the Las Vegas 51's, 30 ahead of AA steals leader Jeff Kobernus of the Harrisburg Senators and 18 ahead of his next-closest competition, Rico Noel of the Lake Elsinore Storm (also a member of the Advanced-A California League).

Click here to view Billy Hamilton's MiLB.com player page.