Hamilton signed with the White Sox as a non-roster invitee Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton spent time with the White Sox in 2021, slashing .220/.242/.378 across 135 plate appearances. He appeared in big-league games for the Marlins and Twins last season but only came to the plate 23 times. At this point his in career, the 32-year-old's bat isn't good enough for his speed and defense to earn him regular playing time, but it's possible he earns a bench spot.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Not in Saturday's lineup
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Hamilton isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox.
Hamilton's contract was selected by the Twins on Thursday, but he hasn't yet started a game for Minnesota. Gilberto Celestino is starting in center field and batting ninth Saturday.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Called up by Minnesota
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Hamilton had his contract selected by the Twins on Thursday.
The 31-year-old inked a minor-league deal with the Twins last week, and he'll join the big club Thursday with rosters expanding to 28 players. Hamilton appeared in 20 games for Miami before being let go in mid-August and had a .220 OPS in 15 plate appearances. He'll provide another option in center field with Byron Buxton (hip) on the injured list.
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Twins' Billy Hamilton: Joins Twins organization
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Hamilton and the Twins agreed to a minor-league contract Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton will first join the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate while he settles in with his new organization, but a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul should come before long. The Twins will likely spend the next few weeks evaluating Hamilton in the minors before potentially summoning him to the big leagues when the roster expands to 28 men in September. At this stage of his career, the ship has sailed on Hamilton hitting well enough to be an everyday player, but his premium speed and excellent defense in center field make him an ideal bench piece.
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Billy Hamilton: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Hamilton elected free agency Saturday.
Hamilton will opt to explore his options outside the Marlins organization after he was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville last week. The 31-year-old could have some appeal to a playoff-contending team down the stretch as a speed-and-defense-oriented reserve outfielder.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Hamilton was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton's contract was selected by the Marlins at the beginning of July, and he hit .077 with nine runs and seven stolen bases over 20 games with the major-league club. However, he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of moves to clear space for the returning Jon Berti and Brian Anderson, who were reinstated from the injured list Friday.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Nabs seventh steal
Rotowire
Hamilton went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Reds.
Getting a rare start in center field and batting ninth, Hamilton did what he does best the one time he was able to get on base. The veteran outfielder has seen only 11 plate appearances since joining the Marlins in early July, going 1-for-9 with four strikeouts, but he's managed to do some damage as a pinch runner by stealing seven bases and scoring eight runs -- enough production to give him some appeal as a bargain DFS option the next time manager Don Mattingly writes his name into the starting lineup.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Added to Thursday's lineup
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Hamilton was added to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton was slated to sit once again Thursday, but he'll start in center field and bat ninth after Jesus Sanchez (personal) was a late scratch. Hamilton has gone 0-for-5 with six runs, three stolen bases and two strikeouts over his last nine games.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Swipes third bag
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Hamilton stole a base and scored a run as a pinch runner in Sunday's extra-inning win over the Mets.
Garrett Cooper was set to begin the 10th inning as the phantom runner in a scoreless tie, but Hamilton replaced him and made an immediate impact with his speed, stealing third base and then coming home with the winning run on a throwing error by Tomas Nido. Hamilton has gotten only one start in seven games since joining the Marlins and has gone just 0-for-4 at the plate, but he's stolen three bases and scored four runs.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Nabs first steal as Marlin
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Hamilton entered Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Angels as a pinch runner in the ninth inning and stole his first base of the season.
The 31-year-old hasn't lost much of his blazing speed, but Hamilton has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt over nearly 3,000 career plate appearances that he isn't a skilled enough hitter to hold down a starting job in the majors. Late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner are likely to be his primary assignments for as long as he's on the Miami roster.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Makes his way to majors
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Hamilton had his contract selected by the Marlins on Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The speedy outfielder signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on June 21, but he will now make his way to the big leagues after Jorge Soler (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. Hamilton has batted .213 with six RBI, 11 runs and four stolen bases in Triple-A this year.
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Marlins' Billy Hamilton: Latches on with Miami
Rotowire
Hamilton agreed to a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton opted out of his minor-league deal with the Mariners at the start of June, and he'll now receive a look with the Marlins. The 31-year-old struggled offensively in 22 games at the Triple-A level this season with a .186/.263/.209 slash line, five RBI and four steals. He'll provide veteran outfield depth in the minors for Miami.
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Mariners' Billy Hamilton: Staying with M's organization
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Hamilton elected not to opt out of his minor-league contract with the Mariners and remains part of the organization as a member of Triple-A Tacoma's roster, Tacoma broadcaster Mike Curto reports.
Curto previously reported Saturday that Hamilton was choosing to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, but after further consideration on the matter, the speedy outfielder will choose to stick around in Tacoma. Through his 95 plate appearances at Triple-A this season, Hamilton has produced a measly .472 OPS while going 4-for-4 on stolen-base attempts.
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Billy Hamilton: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Hamilton opted out of his minor-league contract and became a free agent Saturday, Tacoma Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto reports.
Hamilton failed to earn an Opening Day roster spot with Seattle and didn't make much of a case for a promotion during his 22 games for Tacoma, hitting just .186/.263/.209. The veteran outfielder is unlikely to find a major-league deal on the open market despite his speed and defensive ability, as he's a career .240/.293/.327 hitter.
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Mariners' Billy Hamilton: Won't make Opening Day roster
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The Mariners reassigned Hamilton to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Hamilton and Steven Souza were among the four players cut from big-league camp Tuesday, with both outfielders likely seeing their chances of making Seattle's Opening Day roster come to an end when the Mariners announced Monday that top prospect Julio Rodriguez would begin the season in the majors. The 31-year-old Hamilton appears set to open the season at Triple-A Tacoma, unless Seattle releases him to pursue opportunities with another organization.
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Mariners' Billy Hamilton: Nabs MiLB deal from Seattle
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Hamilton agreed Monday with the Mariners on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
Hamilton will look to break camp with Seattle as a fourth or fifth outfielder, a role that would likely prevent him from making more than two starts per week when all of Jesse Winker, Jarred Kelenic and Mitch Haniger are in optimal health. Though he remains a well-below-league-average hitter, Hamilton's premium wheels and excellent range in center field can still give him some real-life value as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-running option.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Delivers steal in starting role
Rotowire
Hamilton went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored Sunday in the White Sox's 5-2 win over Cleveland.
Though he'll be back on the bench for Monday's make-up game in Detroit, Hamilton could be in store for a start or two in the White Sox's remaining five games of the regular season while Chicago faces an uphill battle to surpass Houston as the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs. With that in mind, Hamilton could be a sneaky streaming option for steals in deeper leagues this week.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Brought back from IL
Rotowire
The White Sox reinstated Hamilton (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
With the roster expanding from 26 to 28 men Wednesday, the White Sox will have room to bring back Hamilton, who recently wrapped up a six-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte. While all of Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn, Luis Robert, Brian Goodwin, Gavin Sheets and Leury Garcia are healthy, the switch-hitting Hamilton is unlikely to fill even a short-side platoon role, but his elite speed and excellent defensive range in center field should make him a valuable weapon off the bench in September.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Likely returning Wednesday
Rotowire
Hamilton (oblique) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
An oblique strain has sidelined the veteran speedster since the beginning of August. With the White Sox near full health for the first time all season, Hamilton will be used as a depth outfielder and pinch runner upon his return.
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White Sox's Billy Hamilton: Hitless in rehab start
Rotowire
Hamilton (oblique) was hitless in three plate appearances for Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday.
Hamilton served as the Knights' designated hitter for the start of his rehab assignment. The team probably wants to see how he responds to playing in the outfield before making a decision on reinstating him.
