Article: David Hamilton's Demotion to Triple-A Should End His Time in Boston Permanently

[Brandon Glick]

The Boston Red Sox executed a series of roster moves prior to their series against the Houston Astros. Nick Burdi's DFA stands as the most impactful of the bunch by default since it opens up a 40-man roster spot, which was subsequently claimed by catcher Ali Sanchez, who was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the week. Reliever Chris Murphy was also demoted for Jovani Morani.

The transaction I want to focus on here, though, is the demotion of David Hamilton. We've had varying opinions on this site about Hamilton from out writers—though most have leaned negative in recent months—and I'm here to lay the hammer down on this topic. I don't think he should ever suit up for the big league Boston Red Sox ever again.

I know that sounds harsh, especially since Hamilton is a player who derives a lot of his value from the "less glamorous" parts of baseball. He's a great runner, having stolen 50 bases in less than 500 plate appearances over the past two seasons combined. That success on the basepaths is due, in part, to his top-notch sprint speed, as he routinely grades out as one of the fastest top-end runners in the sport. Billy Hamilton he is not, though a mighty pinch runner who can get from first to third in a hurry is still a valuable archetype to have in a vacuum.

You know what else is valuable about Hamilton? He's versatile. The 27-year-old has played 575.0 innings at second base and 581 2/3 innings at shortstop over the course of his career (to go along with one solitary frame at third base earlier this season), and he's generally rated as a strong defender at both spots. He's been worth five Outs Above Average (one this year) and 15 Defensive Runs Saved (seven this year) at the keystone, and he's accrued -6 OAA (-1 this year) and -2 DRS (one this year) at the considerably more difficult shortstop position. To have an average shortstop who can play an above-average second base just roaming on your bench is a luxury for any manager, especially one as inclined to give rest to his youngsters and veterans as Alex Cora.

So, by those accounts, it's clear that Hamilton fills his niche pretty well. But, it's at this point we must turn our attention to the batter's box, and rest assured, it's going to get ugly. In 69 games (143 plate appearances) in 2025, Hamilton is slashing .174/.227/.265, which is good for a .492 OPS and 31 wRC+. If you've followed baseball at all in the last 20 years, you don't need me to tell you how bad those latter two figures are, and if you've ever watched a baseball game in your life, you don't need me to tell you how bad that hitting line is.

With all due respect to the spectacularly awful season backstop Connor Wong is having at the plate, it's hard not to say Hamilton has been the worst hitter to step into the batter's box for the Red Sox this year. His batting average (.174), slugging percentage (.265), and wOBA (.221) are all second-worst on the team this season ahead of only Wong, though the catcher has the better of him in on-base percentage, as well as the expected versions of average and wOBA. Though he doesn't have enough at-bats to technically qualify, Hamilton ranks among the worst hitters in nearly every notable batted ball and plate approach metric. According to Baseball Savant, Hamilton would be in the bottom ten percent among all MLB hitters in the following categories: expected wOBA, expected batting average, expected slugging percentage, average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate.

I mean, that's simply untenable. Not every hitter needs to be an. 850 OPS guy who routinely posts a wRC+ in the 130 range, but there's a threshold between "bad" and "un-rosterable". Hamilton has been the latter this season. Despite his aforementioned positive contributions on both defense and the basepaths, he's been worth -0.4 fWAR this season. WAR is a deeply flawed stat that rarely tells the whole story, but it's telling that even a cumulative metric with favorability toward defense pegs Hamilton as a net-negative contributor thanks to his struggles at the plate.

Sure, you could point to the fact that Hamilton was much better last year, producing a .697 OPS and 94 wRC+ in more than double the plate appearances. But even those numbers are below average. Hamilton has never been known for his bat, but that's what makes his bottoming out all the more painful—there's no real floor to his struggles here. In fact, do you know the only batting metric Hamilton has improved in this year?

How often he swings. I'm not kidding. Take a look for yourself.

His overall swing rate is up by a meager 0.2%, which comes from a bump in both his in-zone swing rate (good) and out-of-zone swing rate (bad). By literally every other statistic (and the eye test, for what it's worth), Hamilton has gotten worse in 2025. In the middle of a pennant race, that's not exactly the kind of player you want to be rostering, hence why the Red Sox sent him down to Triple-A Worcester to work on some things with his plate approach.

It's possible we see Hamilton return when rosters expand in September, though if everyone is healthy, I'd wager a return from Kristian Campbell (better bat, can play first base) is more likely. Either way, Hamilton's place on the roster will be in serious jeopardy this offseason, when 40-man roster spots are at a premium. Unless the team truly believes his defensive versatility in the middle infield is valuable enough to justify his porous production at the plate, it seems exceedingly possible that we've seen the last of David Hamilton in a Red Sox uniform.

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[TedYazPapiMookie]

Brandon - Great article that represents the thinking of a major portion of the fan base.  Campbell in AAA and the one-dimensional Hamilton on the MLB roster has never made sense.  Also, the Ali Sanchez claim hopefully will allow Boston to dump Wong as well.  Both players are career minor leaguer's from a talent standpoint.  The Red Sox during the Bloom years needed to use guys like Hamilton and Wong but with all the talent added by Breslow this team has upgraded itself and fan expectations.  The time for Hamilton and Wong has passed and its time for all 13 hitters to be MLB quality.

Campbell has now surpassed Mayer's numbers in AAA and deserves to get a second chance by playing 1B ahead of Toro and others.  He is the long-term solution and needs to rebuild his confidence before the post season begins.  Likewise, Mayer needs to get healthy and rebuild his confidence prior to the post season.  An infield with Bregman, Story, Mayer and Campbell and an outfield with Anthony, Duran and Rafaela with Abreu/Yoshida/Refsnyder at DH looks to be the best of two worlds; great hitting and great defense.  Hopefully, someone in the front office can advise Cora on where the team's talents really lie and can force him to start logical line-ups going forward and to stop all the excessive bench play.  Normal MLB players should be able to play 150 games a season and using the superior player at each position for 150 games has been a given for 100 years or more.  Injuries happen and there is no proof that playing lesser players more reduces the chances of the better players getting hurt so all that results by playing the lesser players is lowering your chances of winning.  That's NOT a winning strategy!!

[Jasonbay44]

1 hour ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Brandon - Great article that represents the thinking of a major portion of the fan base.  Campbell in AAA and the one-dimensional Hamilton on the MLB roster has never made sense.  Also, the Ali Sanchez claim hopefully will allow Boston to dump Wong as well.  Both players are career minor leaguer's from a talent standpoint.  The Red Sox during the Bloom years needed to use guys like Hamilton and Wong but with all the talent added by Breslow this team has upgraded itself and fan expectations.  The time for Hamilton and Wong has passed and its time for all 13 hitters to be MLB quality.

Campbell has now surpassed Mayer's numbers in AAA and deserves to get a second chance by playing 1B ahead of Toro and others.  He is the long-term solution and needs to rebuild his confidence before the post season begins.  Likewise, Mayer needs to get healthy and rebuild his confidence prior to the post season.  An infield with Bregman, Story, Mayer and Campbell and an outfield with Anthony, Duran and Rafaela with Abreu/Yoshida/Refsnyder at DH looks to be the best of two worlds; great hitting and great defense.  Hopefully, someone in the front office can advise Cora on where the team's talents really lie and can force him to start logical line-ups going forward and to stop all the excessive bench play.  Normal MLB players should be able to play 150 games a season and using the superior player at each position for 150 games has been a given for 100 years or more.  Injuries happen and there is no proof that playing lesser players more reduces the chances of the better players getting hurt so all that results by playing the lesser players is lowering your chances of winning.  That's NOT a winning strategy!!

“it’s time for all 13 hitters to be MLB quality” and you want Ali Sanchez on the roster? He’s horrible. 

[moonslav59]

Our history of 2B failure is longstanding and puzzling.

DHam does two things most of our past 2Bman did not do well:

2B defense

Baserunning

Unfortunately, his batting has sucked, except for a moderately long stretch in 2024. Even if used a s a strict platoon 2Bman, his .635 OPS vs RHPs is too lame to sustain that role. He'd have to get better to keep a slot on the 40, and he's running out of time, as the Sox roster crunch will start putting the squeeze on him. Maybe Grissom gets traded before him, but even without Grissom, his days might be numbered.

This might blow you away: we are going on year 8, since 2018, and we have no player with more than 550 PAs at 2B, combining years! Here is the list by PAs w OPS at 2B:

544 Arroyo .739

412 Holt .763

396 Story .737

375 Nunez .615

350 EValdez .651

304 Kike .901

(Kike & Story each gave us nice half seasons at 2B. That's bout it)

254 Chavis .711

233 Hamilton .522

227 KC .658

141 Kinsler .598

131 Marco H .584

119 Marwin .511

115 Romy .849

109 Grissom .487

100 Reyes .627

Others:

Arauz, Peraza, Urias, Rafaela, Iggy, Sogard (50-99 PAs)

20-49 PAs: Y Sanchez, Westbrook, Lin, Owings, Pedey, Turner, Downs & Mayer

13 others had some time at 2B

 

[Bellhorn04]

2B is kind of an oddball position.  It's where you put your second-best middle infielder.  They're not usually one of your best hitters.  They tend to be disposable.  Like my guy Mark Bellhorn.

You don't see a lot of big contracts for 2Bers.

Pedroia was an obvious exception.  
   

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

You don't see a lot of big contracts for 2Bers.

Pedroia was an obvious exception.  

Pedroia had a large contract? I thought it was a below market deal? 😇

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

2B is kind of an oddball position.  It's where you put your second-best middle infielder.  They're not usually one of your best hitters.  They tend to be disposable.  Like my guy Mark Bellhorn.

You don't see a lot of big contracts for 2Bers.

Pedroia was an obvious exception.  
   

Agreed, but to have no player with more than 550 PAs at 2B over an 8 year span, is rare, IMO.

[harmony]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, but to have no player with more than 550 PAs at 2B over an 8 year span, is rare, IMO.

Since Robinson Cano had 646 plate appearances for the Mariners in 2017, the most plate appearances by a Seattle second baseman in a single season came from Adam Frazier with 460 in 2022 (and Dee Strange-Gordon with 410 in 2019).

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, harmony said:

Since Robinson Cano had 646 plate appearances for the Mariners in 2017, the most plate appearances by a Seattle second baseman in a single season came from Adam Frazier with 460 in 2022 (and Dee Strange-Gordon with 410 in 2019).

I'm talking combined 7+ seasons: 2018 to 2015. Not one player has more than 550 PAs as a 2Bman with the Sox. That highlights the circus merry-go-round we have seen there for way too long.

[Maxbialystock]

32 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Our history of 2B failure is longstanding and puzzling.

DHam does two things most of our past 2Bman did not do well:

2B defense

Baserunning

Unfortunately, his batting has sucked, except for a moderately long stretch in 2024. Even if used a s a strict platoon 2Bman, his .635 OPS vs RHPs is too lame to sustain that role. He'd have to get better to keep a slot on the 40, and he's running out of time, as the Sox roster crunch will start putting the squeeze on him. Maybe Grissom gets traded before him, but even without Grissom, his days might be numbered.

This might blow you away: we are going on year 8, since 2018, and we have no player with more than 550 PAs at 2B, combining years! Here is the list by PAs w OPS at 2B:

544 Arroyo .739

412 Holt .763

396 Story .737

375 Nunez .615

350 EValdez .651

304 Kike .901

(Kike & Story each gave us nice half seasons at 2B. That's bout it)

254 Chavis .711

233 Hamilton .522

227 KC .658

141 Kinsler .598

131 Marco H .584

119 Marwin .511

115 Romy .849

109 Grissom .487

100 Reyes .627

Others:

Arauz, Peraza, Urias, Rafaela, Iggy, Sogard (50-99 PAs)

20-49 PAs: Y Sanchez, Westbrook, Lin, Owings, Pedey, Turner, Downs & Mayer

13 others had some time at 2B

 

This whole discussion about Hamilton at 2b is utter nonsense.

Hamilton had a total of 20 at bats in July and August, so his lousy hitting was a  miniscule factor.  Meanwhile, as everyone agrees, he was a useful late inning defensive replacement and a  good pinch runner.  

I don't disagree with bringing up catcher Sanchez because Cora has to be worried about Narvaez's health.  But no way, no how does adding Sanchez and deleting Hamilton improve the Sox hitting.

I would hasten to add, however, that the Sox offense can afford a Hamilton or a Sanchez because right now the Sox have scored just 10 fewer runs than the MLB leader Dodgers.  

The best hitting Sox second baseman is Gonzalez, OPS .891.  However, he's a lot better against lefties, OPS 1.081, than righties, .698. 

Mayer, a lefty bat and good fielder, would be a good fit at 2b should he return to active status.  He can also back up at 3b and SS.  If he is activated, one of the 3 catchers has to go.  

I see no compelling need for Campbell, a righty bat who may or may not be able to play 1b.  

 

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm talking combined 7+ seasons: 2018 to 2015. Not one player has more than 550 PAs as a 2Bman with the Sox. That highlights the circus merry-go-round we have seen there for way too long.

Meh.  Nobody's perfect.  Nunez played a lot of 2b in 2018 with an overall WAR of -1.1.  He couldn't hit and sure as heck couldn't field.  But the Sox won 108 games that season.  

It's also true that the Sox won two WS with Pedey at 2b--2007 and 2013.   In 2013 he had the highest WAR on the Sox, 6.5.  

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

This whole discussion about Hamilton at 2b is utter nonsense.

Hamilton had a total of 20 at bats in July and August, so his lousy hitting was a  miniscule factor.  Meanwhile, as everyone agrees, he was a useful late inning defensive replacement and a  good pinch runner.  

I don't disagree with bringing up catcher Sanchez because Cora has to be worried about Narvaez's health.  But no way, no how does adding Sanchez and deleting Hamilton improve the Sox hitting.

I would hasten to add, however, that the Sox offense can afford a Hamilton or a Sanchez because right now the Sox have scored just 10 fewer runs than the MLB leader Dodgers.  

The best hitting Sox second baseman is Gonzalez, OPS .891.  However, he's a lot better against lefties, OPS 1.081, than righties, .698. 

Mayer, a lefty bat and good fielder, would be a good fit at 2b should he return to active status.  He can also back up at 3b and SS.  If he is activated, one of the 3 catchers has to go.  

I see no compelling need for Campbell, a righty bat who may or may not be able to play 1b.  

One interesting tidbit on Romy's splits in 2025:

.698 v R (104 PAs, almost equal sample size as v R)

1.081 v L (108 PAs)

However, he has started 18 games vs RHPs and 28 vs LHPs, and here are the splits on those games started:

v R .892

v L .889

Almost identical!

Should we try him FT?

 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Meh.  Nobody's perfect.  Nunez played a lot of 2b in 2018 with an overall WAR of -1.1.  He couldn't hit and sure as heck couldn't field.  But the Sox won 108 games that season.  

It's also true that the Sox won two WS with Pedey at 2b--2007 and 2013.   In 2013 he had the highest WAR on the Sox, 6.5.  

Our 2B has been so far from perfect, it's pathetic.

Of the 24 players that have 30+ PAs at 2B, only 7 have an fWAR at 0.2 or better.

2.5 Story in just 94 games

2.1 Kike in 72 games

1.8 Holt 112

1.6 Arroyo 151

0.5 Iggy  in 16 gms & Chavis in 68

0.4 Romy 40

We have had 13 players with -0.2 or worse. 

3 were between -0.1 and +0.1

[notin]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

2B is kind of an oddball position.  It's where you put your second-best middle infielder.  They're not usually one of your best hitters.  They tend to be disposable.  Like my guy Mark Bellhorn.

You don't see a lot of big contracts for 2Bers.

Pedroia was an obvious exception.  
   

Robinson Cano did get a rather lofty contract as well…

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, notin said:

Robinson Cano did get a rather lofty contract as well…

Yes, a very notable exception.

[harmony]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm talking combined 7+ seasons: 2018 to 2015. Not one player has more than 550 PAs as a 2Bman with the Sox. That highlights the circus merry-go-round we have seen there for way too long.

The Seattle Mariners have experienced a revolving door at second base as well. Over that 2018-2025 period, Dee Strange-Gordon with 778 plate appearances was the only Mariner second baseman with more than 550 plate appearances:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=y&ind=0&team=11&season1=2018&season=2025&type=8&month=37&sortcol=3&sortdir=default&pagenum=1

Strange-Gordon's wRC+ of 77 and 0.8 fWAR were not assets.

The Mariners hope to have a long-term solution at second base in barely 22-year-old Cole Young, a graduated Top 50 prospect and former first-round draft pick whose 1.2 bWAR in 54 games this year works out to a pace of 3.5 bWAR over 162 games.

[mvp 78]

Bring David Hamilton back.

 

[Larry Cook]

43 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Bring David Hamilton back.

 

The logjam of outfielders must be dealt with this offseason!!!

[moonslav59]

53 minutes ago, harmony said:

The Seattle Mariners have experienced a revolving door at second base as well. Over that 2018-2025 period, Dee Strange-Gordon with 778 plate appearances was the only Mariner second baseman with more than 550 plate appearances:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=y&ind=0&team=11&season1=2018&season=2025&type=8&month=37&sortcol=3&sortdir=default&pagenum=1

Strange-Gordon's wRC+ of 77 and 0.8 fWAR were not assets.

The Mariners hope to have a long-term solution at second base in barely 22-year-old Cole Young, a graduated Top 50 prospect and former first-round draft pick whose 1.2 bWAR in 54 games this year works out to a pace of 3.5 bWAR over 162 games.

I guess we are not alone with this situation. Maybe Story will be our FT 2Bman for the next two year- maybe Mayer. I doubt KC gets ober 550 at 2B.

[notin]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Bring David Hamilton back.

 

Or Mayer..

[TedYazPapiMookie]

8 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

“it’s time for all 13 hitters to be MLB quality” and you want Ali Sanchez on the roster? He’s horrible. 

Worse than Wong?  Sanchez's current average is .235 compared to .171 for Wong.  Both suck.  We've seen Wong suck but not Sanchez so there is hope his change of scenery will help and maybe Breslow thinks he can improve him. 

[moonslav59]

Wong is hitting a mighty .703 in his last 10 games!

Extend him, now!

[Jasonbay44]

13 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Worse than Wong?  Sanchez's current average is .235 compared to .171 for Wong.  Both suck.  We've seen Wong suck but not Sanchez so there is hope his change of scenery will help and maybe Breslow thinks he can improve him. 

For his career he’s a .185 hitter with 0 career homers and has been dumped by 7 other teams. He isn’t improving and likely gets dumped within a few days. Carrying 3 catchers is dumb, especially when one is 28 year old Ali Sanchez. 

[moonslav59]

52 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

For his career he’s a .185 hitter with 0 career homers and has been dumped by 7 other teams. He isn’t improving and likely gets dumped within a few days. Carrying 3 catchers is dumb, especially when one is 28 year old Ali Sanchez. 

Agreed, It's just a temporary insurance move.

[Maxbialystock]

23 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

2B is kind of an oddball position.  It's where you put your second-best middle infielder.  They're not usually one of your best hitters.  They tend to be disposable.  Like my guy Mark Bellhorn.

You don't see a lot of big contracts for 2Bers.

Pedroia was an obvious exception.  
   

What a great example, Mark Bellhorn! 

[Maxbialystock]

Romy Gonzalez WAR is 1.6--not too shabby for 63 games.

Kristian Campbell's WAR in 66 games was -0.9.  Casas was -0.9 for 29 games.  

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Romy Gonzalez WAR is 1.6--not too shabby for 63 games.

Kristian Campbell's WAR in 66 games was -0.9.  Casas was -0.9 for 29 games.  

fWAR at 2B in 2025:

0.6 Romy (needed more at 1B)

0.2 Mayer

0.1 Sogard

-0.2 KC

-0.3 DHam (way below 2024's number)

-0.7 Rafaela (can't hit as a 2Bman, this year)

Team: -0.3 at 2B

 

[Maxbialystock]

Before Bregman returned in mid July, right before the ASG, I figured he would play 3b again, Story stay at SS, and Mayer would move to 2b with his good glove and hopefully good bat.  That lasted exactly 5 games until his injury on July 23 when he actually played 3b for Bregman. 

I guess my point is that the Sox have played Campbell, Gonzalez, Hamilton, Mayer, Rafaela, and I think Toro at 2b.  Of those 6, onlyh Campbell had the negative overall WAR, -0.9.  All others have positive WAR's.  

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

-0.7 Rafaela (can't hit as a 2Bman, this year)

What a weird game! 🤪

[Maxbialystock]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

fWAR at 2B in 2025:

0.6 Romy (needed more at 1B)

0.2 Mayer

0.1 Sogard

-0.2 KC

-0.3 DHam (way below 2024's number)

-0.7 Rafaela (can't hit as a 2Bman, this year)

Team: -0.3 at 2B

 

Thanks.  Better than my laydown. 

And a devastating stat on Rafaela.  He plays 2b against righty starters so Anthony, Duran, and Abreu can play in the outfield and Yoshida can DH.