Chicago Cubs Sign Former MLB Stolen Base Dynamo

September 07, 2025 ,

Billy Hamilton slides into home plate

He hasn't played in the big leagues in two years, and he might be turning 35 this week, but even the threat of the speed of Billy Hamilton was enough for the Chicago Cubs to sign the former stolen base dynamo to a contract for the rest of the season. 

Hamilton signed last week, and was assigned to the Cubs’ Arizona Complex League team for now, though he hasn’t yet gotten into any games. It's his second stint with the organization, as the Cubs claimed him off waivers five years ago, and he got into 14 games as mainly a pinch-runner, swiping three bags. 

He spent the last two seasons playing in Mexico, where he stole 80 bases in 2024.

Hamilton topped the 50-SB mark four straight years earlier in his career, about a decade ago. He missed out on the NL stolen base crown in two of those seasons by a single bag. He was also in the 99th percentile or higher in Speed in those four seasons. But he's never been able to get on base at a high enough mark to really make a difference for his teams. 

In 951 career games over 11 MLB seasons, he has 326 stolen bases. But that comes with a .239 career average with a woeful .292 on-base percentage and a 66 OPS+.

But that speed, even at his age, as his 80 SBs last year shows, is out of this world. 

We'll see if he shows enough in the Cubs' minor league system to get a call-up to help the Cubs as a pinch runner and/or defensive replacement down the stretch or in the postseason. He is eligible for the playoffs as his contract was signed on Aug. 31st. 

Photo: © Dennis Wierzbicki-Imagn Images

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