The Cubs signed Billy Hamilton to a minor league contract last week, according to Hamilton’s MLB.com profile page. The signing specifically took place on August 31, which means that Hamilton is eligible for a spot on Chicago’s postseason roster.
Hamilton (who turns 35 in two days) was assigned to the Cubs’ Arizona Complex League team and hasn’t yet seen any game action. It could be that Hamilton is simply being ramped up in a Spring Training-esque environment given that he hasn’t played much in 2025, and hasn’t taken part in affiliated baseball since 2023. The outfielder appeared in 132 games in 2024 between stints in the Mexican League and in winter league action, but he has played in just 10 games during the 2025 Mexican League season.
A veteran of 11 Major League seasons from 2013-23, Hamilton is known for his excellent defense and incredible speed, with 326 career stolen bases (out of 398 attempts). Only Starling Marte has more steals since the start of the 2013 season, and Marte amassed his 349 steals with the benefit of over 500 more games than Hamilton. Despite those elite tools, Hamilton has never been much of a hitter, with only a .239/.292/.325 slash line to show for 3285 career plate appearances in the Show.
After beginning his career as the Reds’ regular center fielder, Hamilton’s last few Major League seasons were largely spent bouncing around between several teams as defensive depth and as a pinch-running specialist. This includes a prior stint with the Cubs, and it was exactly five years ago today that Chicago claimed Hamilton off waivers from the Mets. Hamilton started only one of his 14 regular-season games in a Cubs uniform, and came off the bench again in one playoff game, as the Cubs were swept in two games during their wild card series with the Marlins.
A similar role is surely in store for Hamilton if the Cubs decide to add him to their active roster. The Cubs have a sizeable lead in the NL wild card race and are looking like a virtual lock to reach the playoffs, allowing the team some flexibility in using September as a chance to get healthy and to decide on its optimal postseason roster. Chicago isn’t exactly hurting for speed (ranking third in baseball with 142 steals) or outfield depth, but having Hamilton in the organization gives the Cubs yet another option to consider, especially if an injury arises.
Wow that was a surprising name to hear, very cool, good for him might as well give it another go.
If he still has something in the tank might be good as a late inning defense and speed guy.
He hasn’t had “anything in the tank” for most of his career. He can’t hit and even his defense has slipped. I get that it’s a depth move, but geez, is there no one better?
Terrance Gore 2.0
Hamilton has played waaaay more than Gore.
Hamilton could actually hit an mlb home run, gore only hit 1 home run throughout the entire major and minor league
Chandler Simpson might also never hit a home run
Simpson may never hit one over the wall but with his speed he may get an inside-the-park Homer or two
It’s amazing to me that Hamilton hit 24 HRs, not one an IPHR, and yet had a .325 career SLG. In fact his only season with a .400+ SLG was in his 13 game, 3 start, debut season. He actually had 2 seasons where he played 114 and 119 games, when he posted sub.300 SLG. seasons.
Not sure where that .325 career SLG. ranks overall. BB Ref only goes down to Scott Hatteberg’s .410, which ranks him 999th overall.
You mean Chris Pratt’s .410 slug?
For minimum 2000 PA since WWII, Hamilton is 1,818th out of 1,941 players. There’s some mildly successful major leaguers below him, too. Mark Lemke, Austin Hedges, Bucky Dent, Alfredo Griffin, Jose Uribe, Mark Belanger, and Warren Spahn (yes, over TWO THOUSAND PA).
Braves fans of the 90s will recognize Otis Nixon, Mark Lemke, and the 2nd worst SLG on the whole list, Mr. Belliard (.259).
Billy is back?!?! The good news I didn’t know I needed!
Quintin Berry
Terrence Gore
Tim Locastro
Billy Hamilton
Am I missing any other postseason SB merchants of modern past?
Joey Gathright?
Herb Washington?
Lane Adams
Raul Mondesi Jr.
Virgil – Dave Roberts.
Cubs have had Berry and Gore on playoff rosters.
…and Hamilton in 2020, too.
Billy Butler
Rafael Landestoy.
Close enough, welcome back Terrance Gore
I mean, I guess…
Acoss – It’s a good move. Red Sox have their own speed demon Hamilton, he can turn any walk/single/error into a run. It’s a very valuable tool, especially in the postseason when pitching is strong, runs are scarce, and games are close.
Fever,
You’re right, some speed off the bench can’t hurt lol
The only problem with the Sox Hamilton is that Cora insists on letting him bat and play the field, two things he’s not very good at
I’d say this is a joke but it’s Jed.
Luis Aparicio is still alive. He had great speed 60 years ago. Let’s add him.
Jed Lowrie?
Catch up MLBTR, even the Cubs MLB page had this news 3 days ago
It’s because it’s a complete flier move for someone that ought to just retire.
Evidently, the game hasn’t retired him and wants to help him build on his $15M career earnings.
If only you could steal first base.
Only in banana ball
Morgs – Don’t need to. There’s something called pinch runner.
Look up “Dave Roberts 2004 ALCS”.
if the Cubbies want a Hamilton type… the Orioles are about to jettison Jorge Mateo this off season. I wonder who would win in the foot race between he and Billy Hamilton?
Mac – I would think you’d need more than a one foot distance to determine who is the faster runner?
Billy Hamilton Is Charles Simpson’s Spirit Animal ??
But keep bragging about this minor league system. The Cubs play in the 2nd half is the real team and the needle is pointing down but Hamilton and Santana are here!
Mark, do your homework. “if” an injury arises? Both Kyle Tucker and PCA might be going on the IL. Even if not, they won’t go on the IL, they will miss several days. If not saying the Cubs are ready to promote this guy to the majors, just saying di your homework.
He might not be the fastest Hamilton. But if the Cubs and Red Sox go to 7th game and it’s tied after 15 innings, Manfred will decide that they have a race to decide who is World Series Champion. The Hamiltonian.
Please don’t give Manfred any ideas. He’s just fine at screwing things up on his own…
It’s too late. It’s already out in the universe. It’s already been posted. And someone already has the memo on Manfred’s desk as part of a report called “more silly changes you can make to make people wonder if they’re watching the major league or little league World Series”
I don’t think a 35 year old washed up player is going to be a speed demon. Maybe he has a chance with the bigger bases I guess.
Jose – Rickey stole 66 bags in 79 attempts when he was 39.
I’m sure the Cubs put Billy through running drills before signing him.
Rickey Henderson is the greatest ever at stolen bases. It’s quite ridiculous to try and compare. Made me laugh. Thanks.
Jose – You thinking total stolen bases makes a player a far superior basestealer without taking into consideration OBP or PA’s is absolutely hysterical.
Rickey
13,346 PA’s
.401 OBP
Billy
3,285 PA’S
.292 OBP
No offense but laziness and arrogance won’t make you very popular here.
Now try using for once that brain God gave you and tell me which of them had a better SB%.
I’d take Rickey all day like any human who has ever watched a MLB game. Hamilton is/was a gimmick. You sound foolish.
Jose – OH what a surprise, trying to weasel out by turning it into a total player comparison when nobody on this planet would compare a .292 OBP hitter to a 401 OBP hitter.
Please don’t waste anymore of everyone’s time with your nonsense… nothing personal.
Billy Hamilton was never a Rickey Henderson.
Pete – I shouldn’t have to ask, but you know we are comparing only the basestealing skills … right?
Dear Kevin Alcantara: Sorry you’re just too slow. Signed Gollum.
So, you’re conceding that Hoyer doesn’t blindly covet his precious prospects to the harm of everything else. Might be time to retire the gollum schtick. Whatever shelf-life it had as comedy hit the expiration date a long time ago.
I’ve always said Hoyer skips his prospects over shiny things hence the Gollum moniker. He will sign any scumbag over using one of his own which is why I hate him as the POBO. I’ll stop bashing him when he stops sucking at his job which I don’t expect any time soon. You remind me of the idiots who complain about Marks chats when they bash the whole Beads-Bees thing. If you don’t like it don’t read it or go away. Mute me, I really could care less. But stop whining, It’s not lady like.
Thank you for clearing some stuff up for me:
-You misunderstand the Gollum character
-You really do have an unhealthy fixation on Hoyer
-You effortlessly dish out misogynistic insults like some keyboard internet tough guy
-You are overly touchy about anyone disagreeing with you on an lol message board
-You like to imagine me as a lady
I would ask you to decipher the whole Marks chats bash beads-bees thing, but I think instead I’ll take your advice and just mute you.
The Beads-Bees thing is so tired and you never know when it’ll show up, so it’s not easy to read around it., Who-the-f@#k cares about Beads-Bees?
Should I call 911? Is somebody holding a gun to you guys head and making you read this stuff? Someday somebody has to explain to me how a guy attacking me makes me an internet tough guy when I reply? I’ll wait.
We all wish we had someone obsess and fixate about us the same way that weird yankees fan with Alan and uncle mike with Jed Hoyer
Another mistake by jedeye in putting all their eggs in one basket with the unproven palencia
Don’t worry cubs fans- the only way they hey may not make playoffs if if they lose remaining 19 games which is always a possibility with this overrated team.
Can kelly hit another 4 because if he does, that would make it 7 out of 8 position players with 20 or more on a single team. Incredible because there’s still a chance this team doesn’t even make playoffs!
The Mariners have a shot at 5 guys with 30 or more HR’s and 2 of those guys with 50+. I know majority of Suarez’s HR’s came in Arizona but it’s still wild to see that many guys on the same team with that many HR’s. I guess Seattle went from a pitchers park to a hitters paradise for this year anyway.
I said many years ago if only Billy learned to bunt, combined with that speed, he would have had a better career.
Billy’s career .239 batting average doesn’t look near as bad now with how low a lot of batting averages have dipped throughout all of baseball. Billy would probably be under the Mendoza line if he were an everyday player in today’s game though.
A lot of guys today have a low BA, but much better OBP, and SLG than Hamilton could manage.
Cubs also signed Forrest Wall last month. Surprised they decided to sign Hamilton. Guess they prioritize the 26th man for the playoffs rather than another starter and closer that should have been acquired at the deadline. Turner, Santana, Hamilton all names we recognize. Too bad all are way past their peaks. Hoping to see the free agent money go to a starter, closer, and another OF rather than Tucker this off season. BTW we got ripped off as they never spent the money saved by dealing Bellinger.
Funny thing…I was thinking about Hamilton about a week ago when I was reminiscing about an Iron Pigs game In Allentown I attended in 2013. He was with the Louisville Bats and the stadium buzzed when he was able to steal 2nd and third and then score. The other guy on the Bats that we were talking about was long time minor leaguer Mike Hessman, as he was close to becoming the minor league all time home run king. The Pigs weren’t that good and there wasn’t any decent prospects for us to get excited about at that time, so it was cool to see those two visit. Doesn’t feel that long ago. Hope Billy can make it…it would be a neat story.
Folk hero on the South Side of town, right up there with Bad Bad Leroy Brown after the “catch” in the mud that inspired the Hamilton meme and t-shirt. Also stole home in the playoff run. “Billy! Billy! Billy!”