Billy Hamilton: Reds' Future Looks Even Brighter with King of Steals in System

The Cincinnati Reds have rolled out the majors' second-best record at 75-49 and they have a minor leaguer who just broke a record that seemed untouchable in one of the few spots in their lineup they have a need for. 

On Tuesday, Billy Hamilton broke the minor league record for teams affiliated with big league organizations for steals in a single season. 

He broke the mark set by Vince Coleman in 1983. Coleman, one of the greatest to ever swipe a base, set that record at a time when players were swiping bases with little resistance. 

This is a far different stolen-base landscape. To put this in perspective, Hamilton—who now has 147 steals—has more 26 more steals than the entire Miami Marlins team—who lead the majors in steals! 

The guy is a stolen-base savant, and this will be a welcome skill set for the Reds when the 21-year-old makes it to the majors. Hamilton is currently in Double-A and showing every sign he is on track for the bigs. 

The thing about stealing 147 bases is that you have to get on base a lot to do so. So it is no surprise that Hamilton is hitting .317 with a .417 on-base percentage for his minor league season. 

Again, this couldn't have worked out better for the Reds. They have just 72 stolen bases on the year, which is 23rd in the majors. 

There are some drawbacks here, though. Hamilton, a shortstop, needs to improve his defensive consistency, and the Reds have Rookie of the Year candidate Zack Cozart currently manning that spot—and handling leadoff duties. 

Cozart is a promising hitter and a fine defensive player, but he is not the prototypical leadoff man that Hamilton is. Cincinnati can now find a new position for one of these guys, or even trade one and fill the leadoff spot that way. 

This problem is a luxury, and it leads to an amazingly promising future for the Reds.