2024 In One Sentence
Hey, we would even have one thing right here!
The Positives
We’re grading on a curve right here, clearly. However sizzling rattling, after a tough begin it was virtually all constructive, wasn’t it?
David Hamilton broke into the massive leagues as somebody who appeared to have little or no going for him other than his legs — and, even so, he continuously demonstrated a irritating lack of ability to plant these legs on the precise base on the proper time. He didn’t appear to be a lot of a hitter. He didn’t appear to be a lot of a fielder. What he regarded like was a quad-A participant who, if he obtained fortunate, would possibly get to have a memorable pinch-running look or two sooner or later in his profession.
However Hamilton managed to quietly get just a bit bit higher at the whole lot in 2024. On the plate he discovered to hit the ball with extra authority, and a swing-and-miss charge that start the yr at 35.6% plunged all the way in which right down to 25.2% by September. He completed the season as near a league-average offensive performer, highlighted by a blistering Could by which he put up an OBP of .393.
Within the discipline he grew to become a gradual if unspectacular glove man on the precise aspect of the second base bag. He made simply three errors as a second baseman and completed with 3 Outs Above Common on the place in 39 video games.
And, after all, he ran. His 33 stolen bases had been the second-most tallied by a Red Sox participant in a single season over the past 10 years — and he pulled that off whereas beginning simply 78 video games.
As a part-time depth piece, Hamilton did his job.
The Negatives
I mentioned he completed 2024 as near a league-average offensive performer. However near league-average isn’t league-average, and league-average doesn’t imply what it used to.
A .303 OBP is solely not adequate for Hamilton to be an on a regular basis presence within the lineup. And whereas he confirmed that he can deal with second defensively, he was extraordinarily shaky at shortstop, which actually limits his utility and worth as a backup infielder.
Given his pace, he can flip himself into a giant league common if he can handle to get on base a bit extra and minimize down on a strikeout charge that, at 25%, doesn’t actually behoove a hitter with as restricted energy as he has. He took some constructive steps in 2024, however he nonetheless must take a number of extra.
Finest Second
On June 16, the Crimson Sox set a brand new membership file by stealing 9 bases in a single sport (a sport that was towards the Yankees, which is simply pleasant). Hamilton had 4 of these steals, together with two hits, three runs, a stroll, and an RBI.
The Huge Query
Did he drive his manner into Boston’s crowded center infield image?
Coming into the season, Hamilton was little greater than an afterthought. The center infield image regarded fairly clear when Spring Coaching began: Vaughn Grissom would begin at second and hopefully keep there for the foreseeable future; Trevor Story would man shortstop; Ceddanne Rafaela would back-up each positions when not profitable gold gloves in heart; and Marcelo Mayer would drive his manner onto the sector in due time. Kristian Campbell and David Hamilton each muddied up that image in several methods. Hamilton clearly has the bottom ceiling of any of those names, however he’s additionally demonstrated a fairly ample flooring and, ought to Jarren Duran be traded, he’d be the one actual burner left on the Sox.
2025 And Past
Regardless of his enchancment this yr, it’s nonetheless extremely unlikely that David Hamilton ever turns into the common second baseman for the Crimson Sox; however that’s at the least considerably believable now. Even when he by no means improves sufficient to turn into an on a regular basis participant, he has loads of worth to outlive as a backup infielder/depth piece. However he additionally has reliable commerce worth proper now, and it’s attainable that his commerce worth by no means will get any increased. We’ll see the place he stands after the offseason mud has settled.
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