Welcome Back, Billy Hamilton!

This past weekend, the White Sox brought back Billy Hamilton on a minor league deal. Being the originator of the #HamiltonHomies and the biggest Billy Hamilton fan in all of baseball, it is imperative that I share with you’s the importance of this signing.

Why Is This Good?

Some people will tell you that this signing doesn’t mean anything. As the biggest Billy Hamilton stan, what you read in this blog might be biased, but it’s also the truth. This signing moves the needle in many ways that people do not realize. During the 2022 season, morale in the clubhouse was down and there didn’t seem to be a voice of positivity to keep everyone motivated. Who was there in 2021? Billy.

What Was A Major Flaw In the 2022 White Sox? Base Running!

Billy Hamilton’s speed and baserunning expertise serve a huge purpose for this team. The new MLB rules with bigger bases, a pitch clock, and minimizing pickoff attempts are a base stealer’s heaven. Naturally, having a speedster like Billy Hamilton in your dugout is an immediate advantage. In 2022, Billy stole 10 bases in just 37 games. There also happens to be some guys in the White Sox clubhouse that get some pointers from Billy on baserunning and how to use their speed to the team’s advantage.

Even if Billy only plays in 81 games, his base stealing, speed, and the ability to get around the diamond will be advantageous to the White Sox. He can also help to mentor Tim Anderson, Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada, and everyone else who failed at base running last season with how to properly utilize their speed and base running.

Billy the Human

Lastly, I can not express enough how genuine of a human being Billy Hamilton is. Early in spring training 2021 he won me over with his passion for the game of baseball along with his speed and defense. He might not be the biggest threat at the plate, but I would challenge anyone to find somebody in baseball that truly enjoys playing the sport more than Billy Hamilton.

Billy leaving should have never happened. He didn’t have the same success in 2022 with three different teams, including the T___s. He also was not appreciated or loved the same by said fanbases. The flashy glove, lightning quick speed and morale boost will lead to a lot more fun and success on the South Side in 2023. I can not wait to start the first “Bil-ly! Bil-ly!” chant of 2023. Welcome back, Billy!

-Brew Hand Luke