Billy Hamilton received a surprising invitation to join the Chicago Cubs organization in the middle of August. The 35-year-old MLB veteran was playing in Mexico at the time.
He might play his first Major League game since 2023 during the postseason next month.
This surprising MLB acquisition could prove to be a genius move for a team that clinched their first trip to the playoffs since 2020 earlier this week. The Cubs are getting Hamilton back up to speed, literally, in AAA.
Who is Billy Hamilton?
You might not be that impressed if you were to look at Billy Hamilton’s career batting average of .239. He knocked in 189 RBIs and scored 454 runs in 2,988 at-bats with eight different teams from 2013-2023.
His numbers aren’t bad but they aren’t great. The 2009 MLB Draft pick was never named as an All-Star. It’s not like he has been crushing it in recent years.
In fact, Hamilton only recorded more than 50 plate appearances in one of his last four seasons. He spent all of 2024 and most of 2025 with Olmecas de Tabasco and Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League.
Why did the Chicago Cubs sign him?
There is one big piece of the equation that I have not yet mentioned.
Billy Hamilton steals bases. And a lot of them.
The 35-year-old still holds the Minor League Baseball record for most stolen bases in a single season with 155. He also stole an astonishing 326 total bases during his time in the Bigs.
Hamilton regularly stole 50-60 bases per season with success rates well over 80% at his peak from 2014 to 2017. His 37 stolen bases also led the Mexican League last season so he’s still got it.
Thus, the Chicago Cubs decided to give him a shot.
Even though Hamilton is still working back from shoulder surgery, they signed him to a surprising deal on Aug. 31. That makes him eligible to join the big-league team’s roster for the postseason as a pinch runner.
“They were very interested in having me come in for the playoffs and be more of a back-end guy, pinch-run and stuff like that,” Hamilton told the Des Moines Register. “I was like, ‘Yes, I’m willing to do that.’ Whatever they need from me.'”
In the meantime, Hamilton spent the last few weeks with the Iowa Cubs on the AAA level.
They have only pinch run him to get his legs going. No defense. No plate appearances. Nothing.
Billy Hamilton is only in Major League Baseball to steal bases. He is 3-for-3 on stolen bases thus far, including these two successful attempts on two-straight pitches against the Mud Hens:
The Cubs brought Billy Hamilton in to be a potential pinch run option on the postseason squad. Safe to say the legs are still there.
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) September 18, 2025
They've been pinch running him in Triple-A games to get the legs going again. 3 for 3 so far. Here's two of them on two straight pitches. pic.twitter.com/MkfDaK6CMk
It will be interesting to see whether the big-league club decided to give Hamilton the call for the postseason. It would be incredible if he was to steal a base (or bases) that ultimately led to a victory (or multiple victories). Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins would love nothing more.