David Hamilton's Opening Day Performance Showcased How Brewers Believe He Can Be a Difference-Maker

[Jack Stern]

Image courtesy of © Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It was easy to view David Hamilton as a lesser piece in last month’s deal with the Boston Red Sox, which also brought pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan to Milwaukee. The Brewers never saw it that way.

Hamilton’s career numbers at age 28—a .222/.283/.359 slash line and a 77 wRC+—don't look like those of a dangerous player, but Milwaukee’s brain trust projects him as a difference-maker in their infield mix. Acquiring Hamilton was a key reason why they were comfortable sending incumbent third basemen Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to Boston.

“Hats off to [Matt] Arnold and his crew for making sure he was included in that deal,” Pat Murphy said on Thursday. “We lost a great one in Durbin. He was on-brand for us, and then to get [Harrison and Drohan], and then to get a kid like Hamilton, we’re really fortunate.”

It didn’t take long for him to declare Hamilton his annual breakout pick in spring training, but Murphy, who speaks regularly about needing the right "who" on his roster for performance to match potential, was not convinced at first.

“I joke with him a lot that early on, I easily could say that I just couldn’t see it in this kid,” he said during the Brewers’ exhibition series with the Cincinnati Reds leading up to Opening Day. “I just couldn’t see it. And I didn't know if it would translate. I didn’t know how he would accept an identity conversation, talking about what type of player you have been and what you could be.”

Hamilton’s greatest tools are those that the Brewers value highly, particularly during Murphy’s tenure as manager. His average sprint speed of 29.3 feet per second ranked in the 95th percentile of players last season. That quickness makes him a valuable baserunner (+7 career baserunning runs, according to Baseball Savant) and gives him the potential to be an excellent defender at multiple positions. He also makes solid swing decisions, being selective in the zone and chasing at a lower rate (25.1% for his career) than the average hitter.

To turn those skills into more consistent results, the Brewers told Hamilton to focus on hitting line drives, particularly to the opposite field. He posted a decent 94 wRC+ as a rookie in 2024, largely by hitting an excellent 38.3% of his batted balls within the launch angle sweet spot range of 8 and 32 degrees. Last year, his sweet spot rate fell to 30.8%, and his line drive rate from 28.0% to 21.8%.

“A kid with that skill set that's a .290 lifetime on base, that's got to change,” Murphy said. “You've got to get to first. Part of offense is touching first safely. And he does have a good ball-strike, so it doesn't always translate [to reaching base]. So now it's how is your flight plan? How are you putting the ball in play? I think that's what we're excited about, to see him make that adjustment and work for it.”

Fortunately for the Brewers, that vision aligned with Hamilton’s goals and the brand of baseball he prefers to play.

“This is kind of right up my alley,” Hamilton said. “Playing the game hard, running the bases hard, stealing, grindy at bats. So I’m definitely loving it here so far.”

“He's just taken everything in,” Murphy said. “And I hope it translates throughout all six months, because he can be a force.”

While Jake Bauers and Brandon Lockridge received the most public attention for their Cactus League performances, Hamilton was also a spring training standout, hitting .333/.393/.510 (133 wRC+). Most notably, he hit 30.4% of his batted balls to the opposite field, after being a pull-happy hitter in his first three big-league seasons.

Hamilton is not the starter at any position, but by pairing him with Luis Rengifo at third base and Joey Ortiz at shortstop, the Brewers intend to give him plenty of at-bats against right-handed pitching. He drew the Opening Day start at third against a right-hander, playing precisely the kind of baseball he and the Brewers want to see.

In five plate appearances, Hamilton reached base four times, starting with a catcher’s interference on a late, compact swing to foul off a 1-2 fastball on the outside corner. In his next turn, he showed bunt before hitting an infield single off the second base bag and later stole third base. He also drew two walks and made a slick barehanded play at the hot corner.

“It’s what we've been seeing all spring,” Murphy said. “He's in a good spot in his game and his career. He's in a good spot, and hopefully he realizes he can make a difference for us.”

Hamilton will get plenty of opportunities throughout the season to make that impact. Time will tell whether he blossoms into the player the Brewers believe he can be, but he showed how that might look in their first regular-season game.

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[SF70]

Adding Hamilton to this roster fixed one of this team’s biggest weakness — backup SS. He’s the perfect Brewers player with his elite defense and speed. 

IF defense with him at 3B, Ortiz at SS, Turang at 2B and Bauers-Vaughn at 1B has to be among the best in the game.

Incredible trade by Arnold adding him, Harrison & Drohan.

[Jason Wang]

17 hours ago, SF70 said:

Adding Hamilton to this roster fixed one of this team’s biggest weakness — backup SS. He’s the perfect Brewers player with his elite defense and speed. 

IF defense with him at 3B, Ortiz at SS, Turang at 2B and Bauers-Vaughn at 1B has to be among the best in the game.

Incredible trade by Arnold adding him, Harrison & Drohan.

Kinda crazy to think that the Brewers are such a well-rounded team that one of their biggest weaknesses was backup shortstop. 

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Appreciate the article. I enjoy hearing about Pat Murphy's perspective about the player. His ability to communicate with players is exceptional.