As expected, Hamilton to center for 2013

[cinreds21]

This was pretty much a given, but Billy Hamilton will move from shortstop to center field. He will begin this transition in the Arizona Fall League.

ST. LOUIS -- It's been hinted and largely expected, but now it will definitely happen next season. Reds top prospect Billy Hamilton is switching positions, going from shortstop to center field.

"There are a lot of reasons," Bill Bavasi, the Reds' vice president of scouting and player development, told MLB.com. "We have [Zack] Cozart. We have Didi [Gregorius]. If you watch Hamilton's style of play, it's a pounding style of play. It would be an easier position for his body to take along with the base stealing. Everything seems to work better."

This season, the 22-year-old Hamilton set a new professional baseball record with 155 stolen bases in 192 attempts for Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola.

The Reds started preparing Hamilton for the switch during this season.

"Most of the year, he took a round of BP in center field -- at both Bakersfield and Pensacola," Bavasi said. "We would just back everybody off so he could watch balls come off of the bat."

Hamilton is at the team's Goodyear, Ariz., complex working out with players from the organization's instructional league to prepare himself for the Arizona Fall League. In the AFL, he is expected to play center field, left field and shortstop.

Moving Hamilton to center field does not mean a Major League promotion is imminent for 2013.

"He's not at the point yet where we have to make room for him," Bavasi said. "I can't really tell you where he's going to start next year -- Double-A or Triple-A."

[WebScorpion]

I'd put him in AA again to start the season so he can concentrate on his fielding and not have to worry about adjusting to a new league. If his FIELDING is up to snuff at mid-season I'd move him up to AAA. I'm very excited to see how he does.

[Brutus]

We have [Zack] Cozart. We have Didi [Gregorius]. We have Drew [Stubbs].

FIFY, Bill.

[OesterPoster]

FIFY, Bill.

Yeah, that might have been a slight clue about how highly they think of Stubbs. Lol

[corkedbat]

This will certainly spice up the AFL reports. I like this move.

[Superdude]

I like this. I wanted to see what he could do at short, but that's my small market mindset coming out. We need a center fielder and Hamilton's far and away the best option in the system. I can't even imagine the plays he's gonna turn in out there

[SirFelixCat]

Totally support this and this is big-picture thinking, imo. Obviously, 2013 he might see a cup of coffee. So that leads me to think that this team goes after a short-term CF for 2013 with Billy competing for the CF spot in spring training of 2014.



Good move, all the way around, imo.

[fearofpopvol1]

Will Hamilton's arm be a good fit for CF? I know his arm is good, but is it as good or better than say Drew Stubbs'?

I take it, by Bavasi's comments, that he doesn't see Drew Stubbs or Chris Heisey in CF for years to come!

[WVPacman]

Lord I can't help but get excited seeing Hamilton playing in CF instead of Drew Stubbs.

[Blitz Dorsey]

This is fantastic on many levels. Not surprising, but fantastic.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Lord I can't help but get excited seeing Hamilton playing in CF instead of Drew Stubbs.

I'm just looking forward to seeing our starting CF get on base more than 28 percent of the time.

[WVPacman]

I'm just looking forward to seeing our starting CF get on base more than 28 percent of the time.

Exactly man!

[dougdirt]

I'm just looking forward to seeing our starting CF get on base more than 28 percent of the time.

Couldn't you say the same thing about the starting shortstop?

[GAC]

In the first round, if we sweep in three games this is a non-issue isn't it?

Think positive!

[bellhead]

Will Hamilton's arm be a good fit for CF? I know his arm is good, but is it as good or better than say Drew Stubbs'?

I take it, by Bavasi's comments, that he doesn't see Drew Stubbs or Chris Heisey in CF for years to come!

He has an excellent arm, when he uses a correct throwing motion. Doug has a video of Hamilton playing short. There is a play where he goes into the hole and fires a strike on a rope to first base.