Cincinanti Reds top prospect Billy Hamilton will start the 2013 season at Triple-A Louisville and play every day in center field, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Thursday.
The Reds plan to have Billy Hamilton spend most if not all of 2013 at Triple-A Louisville.“He’ll be playing center field and working on his offense and his overall game,” Jocketty said. “He’s going to probably end up bunting a lot, with his speed. Bunting and running are his two key tools.”
Hamilton set a minor league record with 155 stolen bases in 2012. He first played in Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. Hamilton has mainly played shortstop in the minors but is moving to center field. The Reds have shown confidence in Zack Cozart at shortstop and he will more than likely be the shortstop of the future.
The Reds acquired Shin-Soo Choo from Cleveland who will play center field this year. Choo signed a one year deal so that may leave the door open for Hamilton in center in 2014.
“We’ve got Choo for this year, and then we’ll see,” Jocketty said.
