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Photo courtesy of
reds.com
Billy Hamilton will
be just one of the big names in the lineup of the future in Cincinnati.
Hamilton and
Goodwin shine in futures game
reds.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Good leadoff hitters are the ones who are
catalysts, who make things happen at the top of the lineup.
If the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game is any indication, there
are two good ones speeding their way to the big leagues. Both Billy
Hamilton of the Reds and Brian Goodwin of the Nationals had their
skills on display as 5,713 fans came to Salt River Fields at Talking
Stick to watch Goodwin's East Division team top Hamilton's West squad,
9-4, on Saturday night.
"I'm trying to one-up him," Goodwin joked after his 2-for-5
performance. "He does what he does. And he can do it all. I wanted to
try to come up ahead of him. It's good, fun competition."
Those who had heard about Hamilton's speed, but thought perhaps it was
the stuff of legend, saw just how accurate the reports were right out
of the gate. Hamilton didn't hit a ball out of the infield for the East
Division. But the Reds' top prospect, and No. 14 on MLB.com's Top 100,
showed just what a game-changer his legs can be. The
shortstop-turned-center fielder led off the game with a walk against
West Division starter and Astros prospect Jarred Cosart. He promptly
stole second and then took third on a delayed steal. He then walked
home on Padres outfield prospect Rymer Liriano's double.
"That's my game," Hamilton said. "I like to bring fun, a little
excitement. I bring a lot of energy."
He was at it again in the top of the fifth. Tommy Joseph of the
Phillies led off the inning with a single, then was replaced by Braves
shortstop prospect Nick Ahmed at first. Batting from the left side,
Hamilton dragged a near-perfect bunt down the first-base line. Astros
first baseman Jonathan Singleton rushed his throw and it sailed into
right field, allowing Ahmed to come around to score and Hamilton to
race to third. Rays shortstop Hak-Ju Lee singled him in to give the
East a 4-3 lead.
In between those two plate appearances, Hamilton's legs made an impact
in the field. With D-backs shortstop Chris Owings on first base,
Goodwin crushed a ball to center field. Hamilton, at first slow to
retreat, got his wheels going to make a spectacular catch at the
warning track, showing that while he's still very early in his
transition, that speed allows him to cover a lot of ground.
"When he hit that, I thought it was right at me," said Hamilton, who
just started playing center in the Fall League. "Then it kept carrying
on me. I'm still getting used to that. I think I'm going to be fine out
there."
Goodwin matched his counterpart in terms of impact, even with Hamilton
robbing him. He led off the home half of the first with a homer against
Twins prospect Kyle Gibson. Yankees infield prospect David Adams
doubled in a pair in the fifth inning to give the East the lead back
after Hamilton's work. Goodwin then doubled in Adams and eventually
came around to score.
"This was more fun than I thought it would be," said Goodwin, the No.
67 prospect in the league. "I met some new guys, we played the game we
love and we came out with a win. What else are you playing for?"
While the offense created most of the headlines, not exactly uncommon
for the Arizona Fall League, the local D-backs fans had to be excited
by one pitching performance in particular. Right-hander Chase Anderson
came in after Cosart and threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits,
walking none and striking out four.
"I was hoping for an opportunity to play in this league this year,"
said Anderson, who missed most of 2011 with an injury, but jumped back
on the map with a strong 2012. "I wanted to do this at the beginning of
the year."
Games like this are more showcase than anything, even though the
members of the winning East squad were given a prize for their victory,
and it didn't disappoint on that front. There was Hamilton's speed,
Goodwin's bat as well as Liriano's (he had two doubles), Anderson's
outing on the mound, all of which should give fans a glimpse of what
Major League Baseball could look like in the near future. That's
especially considering the success rate of this game -- 72.6 percent of
past participants have made it to the big leagues -- to produce Major
Leaguers.
For this story and more, go to Cincinnati Reds
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