Prospect Retrospective: Caleb Hamilton

[Cody Christie]

Ryan Jeffers is out six to eight weeks, so Caleb Hamilton will get his first shot at the big-league level. Now, he's going to be starting some critical second-half games for the Twins. Let's look back at his professional career. 

 

 

Minnesota selected Caleb Hamilton in the 23rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Oregon State University. In three collegiate seasons, he hit .223/.326/.314 (.640) with 23 extra-base hits in 149 games. Defensively, he played six different positions in college but didn't log a single inning at catcher. The Twins slowly transitioned him into his catching duties during his professional career. 

After signing, the Twins sent Hamilton to Elizabethton, where he hit .207/.351/.329 (.680) in 45 games. The E-Twins used him in all three outfield positions as well as time at third base, second base, and shortstop. He showcased his defensive versatility, which continued to increase as he moved up the organizational ladder. 

In the 2017 season, Hamilton moved up to Cedar Rapids, where most of his defensive innings came at catcher (348 innings). He played over 100 innings at third base and left field while also being used sparingly at first and second base. Offensively, he posted some of the best numbers of his career as he hit .222/.342/.394 (.736) with 31 extra-base hits in 92 games. He was adding new dimensions to his game and putting himself on the prospect map.

**** Click here for past Twins Daily articles that Caleb Hamilton has been tagged in. ***

Hamilton continued his steady climb in 2018 as the Twins assigned him to High-A. At Fort Myers, his offensive numbers dipped compared to 2017. In 91 games, he hit .205/.288/.323 (.611) with 25 extra-base hits and a 72-to-36 strikeout to walk ratio. Hamilton started 66 games at catcher and logged over 550 innings for the first time in his career. He continued to get time at third base as he played 175 innings at the hot corner. 

During his age-24 season, Hamilton split time between Double- and Triple-A. He spent less time catching (400 1/3 innings)  and more time getting regular reps at third base (356 2/3 innings). For the season, he got on base over 31% of the time and combined for a .660 OPS. Missing the entire 2020 season impacted players differently, and Hamilton was reaching a critical point in his prospect development.  

**** Click here for a Get to Know 'Em Podcast interview that includes Caleb Hamilton from November 2019... ****

As the 2021 season began, Hamilton struggled to find his swing, especially when he got called up to Triple-A. In 67 Double-A games, he hit .192/.327/.360 (.686) with eight doubles and eight home runs. In St. Paul, he went 3-for-29 (.103 BA) with 11 strikeouts in 11 games. He continued to play catcher while also getting regular time at first base. Even though he was at Triple-A, Hamilton had to feel like he was a long way from making the big leagues. 

So far in 2022, Hamilton has looked like a completely different player at the plate. In 49 games at Triple-A, he hit .252/.387/.491 (.877) with eight doubles and ten home runs. He's also improved at controlling the strike zone with a 54-to-35 strikeout to walk ratio. He's getting walked in 18% of his at-bats, and he has a career-high ten home runs. Minnesota will get a more extended look at Hamilton over the next two months due to the Jeffers injury. Hopefully, he will be able to transition his newly found power stroke to baseball's highest level.

What do you remember about Hamilton's professional career? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

 

 

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[ashbury]

Wow, what a terrible plate umpire in that final video, LOL.

[Dman]

I didn't really think Hamilton was much of a prospect until 2021 when he started out hot at the plate.  He got my attention and then promptly slumped the rest of the way.  Thought he might be done for good and didn't give him much of a chance other than depth to start the year but the bat was back and he has been more consistent this year.  I honestly think he could be a solid backup catcher.  He's no All Star but I think he is solid and a good third catcher candidate.

[Kevin Urdahl]

Sounds like the second-coming of Glenn Borgmann!

 

[mickster]

He can hold down the fort until we go get a b/u for Sanchez

 

[jorgenswest]

He has earned this opportunity. It had to be a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice to get to the majors.  

Hamilton was selected in the 23rd round at pick 693. Only 1 other player has signed and made it to the majors from pick 693. Stephen Smitherman was drafted by the Reds and played 21 games hitting .159.

I hope he makes the most of his opportunity.

[Kevin Urdahl]

7 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

He has earned this opportunity. It had to be a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice to get to the majors.  

Hamilton was selected in the 23rd round at pick 693. Only 1 other player has signed and made it to the majors from pick 693. Stephen Smitherman was drafted by the Reds and played 21 games hitting .159.

I hope he makes the most of his opportunity.

Agree!

[Platoon]

If he would have pulled that pitch any farther it woulda hit the batter in his unmentionable areas! Lol 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

The powers that be must have seen something more in him than his batting statistics, because he kept getting promoted even with terrible stats with little, to no, improvement year after year. Sometimes Hamilton wasn't catching much either. If I had a son playing baseball, I would show him Hamilton's batting stats  and Hamilton's consistent promotions, and tell my son to be a catcher.  

[mikelink45]

Let's hope for the best - what choice do we have?  

[LewFordLives]

Wonder why they kept moving him around the diamond. Doesn't appear that he was ever going to hit well enough to crack the big league at any position besides catcher. I wish him well. We certainly need a catcher. The opportunity is there. Hopefully he can run with it.

[Game7-91]

Catcher to ump: "But if he'd thrown a strike, this is where it would have landed."

Ump to catcher: "Hmmm, good point. Steeeeerriiiiiikkkkewun"

[MinnInPa]

umpire should be reading the pitch as it passes the plate..not once it hits the glove..Sooo, how can "framing" influence an umpire....hmmmmm...SMH

 

[bird]

On 7/19/2022 at 2:57 PM, jorgenswest said:

He has earned this opportunity. It had to be a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice to get to the majors.  

Hamilton was selected in the 23rd round at pick 693. Only 1 other player has signed and made it to the majors from pick 693. Stephen Smitherman was drafted by the Reds and played 21 games hitting .159.

I hope he makes the most of his opportunity.

Fun fact: Hamilton is the only player from that 2016 23rd round to play a game in the big leagues. And only one other prospect drafted in that round, an unsigned Dodger's pick, has made it after being drafted in a more favorable round later. A guy named Bailey Ober.