The White Sox have added another name to their outfield mix for the 2023 season.
According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, the White Sox are bringing back outfielder Billy Hamilton on a minor league deal that includes a non-roster invite to major league spring training.
Hamilton, 32, spent the 2021 season with the White Sox and split the 2022 season between Minnesota and Miami. Hamilton slashed .220/.242/.378 in his last go-around on the South Side, but quickly became a fan favorite because of his energy, personality, and ability to make catches like this:
As the roster currently stands, Hamilton would figure to compete with recent signee Victor Reyes, and potentially others as an outfield depth piece off the bench. Given some of the changes around the league in regard to pick-offs and the size of bases, having speed on a team is a definite advantage for ball clubs. With 10 stolen bases in just 37 games last season, it’s clear the soon-to-be 32-year-old still has plenty left in the tank, and that makes this move all the more intriguing as to how the White Sox would plan to utilize Hamilton.
How the rest of the offseason affects the outfield situation remains to be seen, and it’s unclear if the White Sox would construct a 26-man roster that has enough space for a pinch runner like Hamilton. However, assuming all goes well in Spring Training, Hamilton will definitely be a name in the mix as the White Sox get their team together to break camp.
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Featured Image: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Never quite understood why he was let go.