'I was energized': Speedy prospect Hamilton shows off best skill in debut
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MINNEAPOLIS -- David Hamilton's lightning-fast legs were shaking with excitement when Red Sox manager Alex Cora called on the club’s No. 26 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, to pinch run for Masataka Yoshida with one out in the top of the eighth down by a run on Wednesday night.
For Hamilton, this was his Major League debut and it was no mystery why Hamilton was in the game.
His job was to steal a base, because that’s, by far, his top skill. Hamilton stole 70 bases for Double-A Portland last season and already has 27 for Triple-A Worcester this season. On a 20-80 scouting scale, MLB Pipeline has his running tool at a 70.
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He waited one pitch, then let Twins reliever Jhoan Duran make one pickoff move. And after that, Hamilton’s nerves were settled and he went for it.
Hamilton bolted on the 0-1 pitch and the play wasn’t even close. The 25-year-old went in standing up as Christian Vázquez’s throw was well short of the base. A good throw wouldn’t have made a difference. On the next pitch, Triston Casas belted a double to the gap in left-center and Hamilton crossed home with the tying run.
The only downer for Hamilton was that the Red Sox lost the game to the Twins, 5-4, in 10 innings.
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“We were surprised he didn't take off on the first one,” quipped Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “But obviously, it's your first big league play. I wasn't expecting that. He got a good jump, he got to second, and he put pressure on them.”
Did Hamilton contemplate going on the first pitch?
“Nah, I definitely needed a minute to settle in,” said Hamilton. “Had to take it in. A little scared. I didn’t know too much about [Duran’s move] either. Just seeing how he went about it.”
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Hamilton quickly developed a head of steam on that next pitch, stealing the base in 3.75 seconds and motoring to second with a sprint speed of 27.6 feet per second after getting a secondary lead of 24.3 feet.
“Pretty good [jump],” said Hamilton. “[My] legs were definitely loose and that helped. I was energized.”
How could he not be?
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“It’s amazing,” said Hamilton. “Just making my debut for the Red Sox, it’s awesome. You always hear about the Red Sox growing up. It’s cool that I could be a part of that.”
While it’s unclear how long Hamilton will be on the roster in his first Major League stint, he will make his first career start at shortstop for Thursday’s finale of this four-game series at Target Field.
Not long after his pinch-running debut, Hamilton went into the hall outside the clubhouse and embraced the moment with his family, who had flown in from Texas to be part of the big moment.
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“Just everybody smiling, everybody happy, hugging me, congratulating me,” said Hamilton. “I felt good. It means a lot.”
Nobody’s smile was wider than David Hamilton Sr., a college baseball player for Southwest Texas (now Texas State) in 1986-87.
“He was happy. He was so giddy, smiling, yeah, everybody was just happy for me,” said Hamilton. “He was the one that pretty much taught me how to steal, always working on me with the starts and getting good jumps.”
The Red Sox are already anticipating Hamilton’s next big moment on the bases.
“We all saw him in Spring Training and I was fortunate enough to see him in Triple-A. He’s a difference maker with that speed,” said Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock. “We’re excited to have him and we love what he brings.”