David Hamilton

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #20 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Though Hamilton blew out his Achilles tendon in a scooter accident after an excellent sophomore year at Texas, the Brewers bet on the return of his athleticism by making him a Day 2 pick and signing him for $400,000 in 2019. After Hamilton had a solid season for the Brewers’ High-A and Double-A affiliates in 2021, the Red Sox acquired him in a trade for Hunter Renfroe. In two years with the Red Sox, Hamilton has forged a reputation as one of the fastest players in the minors while improving his offense and defense. An excellent start to 2023 faded due to a left thumb injury that eventually required season-ending surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Previously a spray hitter with limited power, Hamilton showed improved bat speed after a weighted-bat program in 2023. He boosted his 90th percentile exit velocity to 102 mph--a mark that was suppressed by his thumb injury. While he generally makes contact when swinging at strikes and doesn’t chase excessively, he lacks barrel control, alternating stretches where he drives the ball with authority with showers of infield popups. Defensively, Hamilton’s explosive first step at both middle infield spots resulted in strong metrics despite an awkward throwing motion and light arm at short. Many evaluators believe he would thrive in center field thanks to elite speed, a trait that makes him a game-changer as a stolen base threat under MLB’s new rules.
  
  The Future: Hamilton’s speed and defense ensure a big league role, and his bat now looks capable of making him at least a platoon option and potentially a bottom-of-the-order regular.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #25 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Hamilton’s defense and on-base skills impressed as a sophomore at Texas, but a torn Achilles created concern that his exceptional speed might be diminished. The Brewers took him in the eighth round and signed him for $400,000. With the 2020 minor league season canceled, he played in an independent league, going 20-for-20 in steals. The Red Sox acquired him with Alex Binelas after the season in a trade sending Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee.
  
  Scouting Report: Hamilton has standout speed and timing, helping him both as a basestealer and giving him good lateral range in the middle infield. He has advanced pitch recognition and a good sense of the strike zone with strength in his swing, but he sometimes gets in trouble making hollow contact while trying to elevate the ball. He’s at his best drilling firm liners to the gaps, something he did a lot against righties but not so much against southpaws. He has the lateral range for short but a fringy arm.
  
  The Future: Hamilton’s contact, speed and defense offer an old-school top-of-the-order skill set, while likely making him a valued part-timer against righties now.
  
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #17 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Hamilton had a standout sophomore year at Texas and but he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed his entire junior year. The Brewers still took him in the eighth round and signed him for an above-slot $400,000. Hamilton returned to the field in 2020 and played in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he hit .296/.430/.370 and went 20-for-20 on stolen bases in 27 games. He reported to instructional league and drew attention as a top offensive performer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton is 22, so he was one of the older players at instructs, but the quality of his at-bats was impressive. He has a sound lefthanded stroke, uses his hands well at the plate and consistently barrels balls while showing a good eye for the strike zone. He doesn't have a ton of home run power, but he's a sound hitter with a good approach. Hamilton is a good athlete and a plus runner. He showed a solid-average arm and played steady defense at both middle-infield positions during instructs.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hamilton is advanced enough that he could jump to high Class A for his pro debut. He has a chance for a breakout season now that he's healthy.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #223 prospect in 2019 draft
  After making it to Omaha in 2018, Texas slipped back to 27-27 in 2019. One of the big reasons was the Longhorns missed Hamilton, who missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Hamilton's injury obviously makes it difficult for teams to fully evaluate him, as his athleticism and speed were his best attributes. Hamilton is a lefthanded hitter who focuses on making plenty of contact while using his plus speed. Pre-injury Hamilton had a quick first step and the hands to stay at shortstop. Hamilton was overmatched as a hitter as a freshman and even with improvement as a sophomore, his lack of power is a concern in pro ball, and Hamilton didn't get to allay those concerns as a junior. He could use a medical redshirt year and retain two years of eligibility if he doesn't like where he goes in the draft.
• Ranked #188 prospect in 2016 draft
  One of the fastest players in this year's draft class, Hamilton was also the star quarterback at San Marcos High. He rushed for 2,000 yards as a junior and threw for another 1,000. His senior season on the football field was marred by a broken collarbone, but he recovered in time to return to the baseball diamond this spring and once again showed his athleticism and excellent hand-eye coordination. The Texas signee is a plus-plus runner (6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash) who puts the ball in play with a contact-oriented approach and a simple, repeatable swing. There are questions about whether the slight but wiry strong Hamilton will hit for power with a wood bat, but he should spray lots of lines drives and use his speed as a potentially above-average lefthanded hitter. Defensively Hamilton has the quick-twitch, first-step quickness and soft hands required to play shortstop, but his arm is stretched at the position--he generally slings throws from a lower slot without exceptional carry.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hamilton’s defense and on-base skills impressed as a sophomore at Texas, but a torn Achilles created concern that his exceptional speed might be diminished. The Brewers took him in the eighth round and signed him for $400,000. With the 2020 minor league season canceled, he played in an independent league, going 20-for-20 in steals. The Red Sox acquired him with Alex Binelas after the season in a trade sending Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee.
  
  Scouting Report: Hamilton has standout speed and timing, helping him both as a basestealer and giving him good lateral range in the middle infield. He has advanced pitch recognition and a good sense of the strike zone with strength in his swing, but he sometimes gets in trouble making hollow contact while trying to elevate the ball. He’s at his best drilling firm liners to the gaps, something he did a lot against righties but not so much against southpaws. He has the lateral range for short but a fringy arm.
  
  The Future: Hamilton’s contact, speed and defense offer an old-school top-of-the-order skill set, while likely making him a valued part-timer against righties now.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hamilton had a standout sophomore year at Texas and but he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed his entire junior year. The Brewers still took him in the eighth round and signed him for an above-slot $400,000. Hamilton returned to the field in 2020 and played in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he hit .296/.430/.370 and went 20-for-20 on stolen bases in 27 games. He reported to instructional league and drew attention as a top offensive performer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton is 22, so he was one of the older players at instructs, but the quality of his at-bats was impressive. He has a sound lefthanded stroke, uses his hands well at the plate and consistently barrels balls while showing a good eye for the strike zone. He doesn't have a ton of home run power, but he's a sound hitter with a good approach. Hamilton is a good athlete and a plus runner. He showed a solid-average arm and played steady defense at both middle-infield positions during instructs.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hamilton is advanced enough that he could jump to high Class A for his pro debut. He has a chance for a breakout season now that he's healthy.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hamilton had a standout sophomore year at Texas and but he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed his entire junior year. The Brewers still took him in the eighth round and signed him for an above-slot $400,000. Hamilton returned to the field in 2020 and played in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he hit .296/.430/.370 and went 20-for-20 on stolen bases in 27 games. He reported to instructional league and drew attention as a top offensive performer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton is 22, so he was one of the older players at instructs, but the quality of his at-bats was impressive. He has a sound lefthanded stroke, uses his hands well at the plate and consistently barrels balls while showing a good eye for the strike zone. He doesn't have a ton of home run power, but he's a sound hitter with a good approach. Hamilton is a good athlete and a plus runner. He showed a solid-average arm and played steady defense at both middle-infield positions during instructs.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hamilton is advanced enough that he could jump to high Class A for his pro debut. He has a chance for a breakout season now that he's healthy.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hamilton had a standout sophomore year at Texas and but he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed his entire junior year. The Brewers still took him in the eighth round and signed him for an above-slot $400,000. Hamilton returned to the field in 2020 and played in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he hit .296/.430/.370 and went 20-for-20 on stolen bases in 27 games. He reported to instructional league and drew attention as a top offensive performer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton is 22, so he was one of the older players at instructs, but the quality of his at-bats was impressive. He has a sound lefthanded stroke, uses his hands well at the plate and consistently barrels balls while showing a good eye for the strike zone. He doesn't have a ton of home run power, but he's a sound hitter with a good approach. Hamilton is a good athlete and a plus runner. He showed a solid-average arm and played steady defense at both middle-infield positions during instructs.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hamilton is advanced enough that he could jump to high Class A for his pro debut. He has a chance for a breakout season now that he's healthy.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  After making it to Omaha in 2018, Texas slipped back to 27-27 in 2019. One of the big reasons was the Longhorns missed Hamilton, who missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Hamilton's injury obviously makes it difficult for teams to fully evaluate him, as his athleticism and speed were his best attributes. Hamilton is a lefthanded hitter who focuses on making plenty of contact while using his plus speed. Pre-injury Hamilton had a quick first step and the hands to stay at shortstop. Hamilton was overmatched as a hitter as a freshman and even with improvement as a sophomore, his lack of power is a concern in pro ball, and Hamilton didn't get to allay those concerns as a junior. He could use a medical redshirt year and retain two years of eligibility if he doesn't like where he goes in the draft.