CINCINNATI — Billy Hamilton’s entrance as a pinch-runner into a Reds game at Great American Ball Park generates the kind of buzz usually reserved for a monstrous Joey Votto home run or 103-mph Aroldis Chapman fastball.
“I’ve had a few good weeks, and it’s fun — a bunch of excitement,” Hamilton said Wednesday before the Mets and Reds completed a three-game series. “That is what it’s all about, excitement. If I can bring that to the team, I feel good about it.”
The rookie outfielder entered play 13-for-13 in stolen-base attempts since his arrival from Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 2 and has fast 🎐emerged as a cult hero on a team headed to the playoffs for a🐈 second straight year.
Hamilton wasted no time leaving an impression on the Mets on Monday, entering as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning and bolting for second base on Frank Francisco’s first pitch. The Mets had a pitchout called, but Francisco missed Travis d’Arnaud’s glove with the fastball, which clipped plate umpire Tony Randazzo.
“When [Hamilton] got on, I was ready to throw — pretty much as hard as I could — trying to make a clean, accurate throw,” d’Arnaud said.
“I’m sure everybody knew it was coming, that he would be running. They all stood up when he came on. His whole team knew it was coming, they were standing up. My whole team knew it was coming, they were standing up. My adrenaline was pumping. Everybody knew it was coming.”
On Wednesday, Hamilton was caught stealing for the first time in the majors when Juan Centeno nabbed him at second base — off a delivery from the deliberate Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Hamilton’s 75 stolen bases at Triple-A this season were the most in the International League since Otis Nixon swiped a league-record 94 in 1983. Last season, Hamilton stole 155 bases at Double-A Pensacola to establish a minor league record. He is the first Reds player to begin his career with at least 13 straight successful stolen-base attempts since Barry Larkin went 15-for-15 over the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
“They know I’m going to go, just not when,” Hamilton said. “I feel like that is a good thing.”
But Hamilton said💜 the numbers will never be a focal point of his game.
“I never did that, even when I broke the record in the minor leagues, I wasn’t really just focused on me trying to break the record,” Hamilton said. “It’s just me playing every day and coming out there and getting better.”
Only adding to the excitement level, Ha꧂milton has gotten an opportunity to display his skills for a team that hopes to be playing deep into ✨October. The Reds began play three games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, but have already clinched a wild-card berth.
“That’s the good thing,” Hamilton said. “It means that everybody is here all willing to win, putting everything in and trying to close down the season.”