Reds should grant former speedster's wish following fantastic Winter Ball showcase

Few players throughout Cincinnati Reds history have captured the hearts of the fanbase quite like Billy Hamilton did during his tenure in the Queen City. Hamilton broke into the big leagues at age 22 and stole 13 bases during his first 13 games in September of 2013.

Hamilton's speed on the base paths and stunning defensive plays in the outfield turned him into a star in the city of Cincinnati. Unfortunately, Hamilton struggled to make contact, and his career .631 OPS during his six seasons in Cincy eventually saw the Reds cast him aside.

Hamilton was non-tendered by the Reds following the 2018 season and spent the following five years bouncing all over the major leagues. The speedy outfielder spent time with the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and New York Mets. But Hamilton failed to land a deal last season and spent his summer in the independent leagues.

Reds should grant Billy Hamilton's wish following fantastic Winter Ball showcase

Hamilton joined the Mexican League last year, and in 52 games with Charros de Jalisco, hit .283/.335/.367 and stole 35 bases. Hamilton was only caught three times and also legged out 10 doubles and three triples.

But Hamilton shined even brighter during Winter Ball. In 64 games, the 34-year-old posted a .699 OPS while smacking three home runs and racking up 38 steals. In fact, Hamilton's success caught the attention of MLB scouts during the Caribbean Series, and according to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the veteran is seeking a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

The Reds would be a perfect landing spot for Hamilton. In his prime, Hamilton was one of the best outfield defenders in the game. Cincinnati's outfield depth is questionable at best, and while a light-hitting journeyman isn't exactly the type of player the Reds should be targeting, taking a flier on a player with Hamilton's ability would add even more depth to one of team's biggest shortcomings.

Even if handing out a minor league resulted in nothing more than outfield depth in Triple-A, Reds fans would love to see Hamilton turn on the jets at Goodyear this spring. Come on, Reds! Make it happen.

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