By John Fay

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – As spring goes on, the legend of Billy Hamilton grows. Hamilton's otherworldly speed can be a shocking thing to see on baseball field.

Hamilton was clocked in 3.3 seconds, or maybe it was 3.4, to first base on a push bunt against Texas' Yu Darvish on March 10.

"I heard both," Hamilton said. "Someone from their minor leagues said 3.3. I heard 3.4, too. The fastest I had done before was 3.5."

Whether it was 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5, that's flying. A time of 4.0 from the right side is considered elite.

But consider this: According to speedendurance.com, Usain Bolt hit 30 meters in 3.78 on his way to the world record of 9.58 in the 100 meters. That's 90 feet in 3.46 seconds.

Bolt isn't the fastest out of the blocks and Hamilton has a running start on a bunt. But when your time matches up with Bolt's in anything, you're fast – really fast.

Hamilton has left the folks in the Reds dugout in shock at times.

"It's kind of like when (Aroldis) Chapman first showed up," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "And we got a chance to see that fastball as a reliever – not touching a 100 every now and again, but pitching at 100 to 105 virtually every pitch.

"You never get tired of seeing it. But the shock and awe part of it wears off after awhile. I'm sure you're never going to underappreciate Billy's speed or take it for granted. Right now, we're in the height of it.

"We get to see it every day – every play at first base, every bunt, every ground ball is bang-bang. Every base hit to center is a possible double based on how aggressively the center fielder goes after the ball. It's really exciting to watch."

Hamilton changes the way other clubs play. Some have both the first and third basemen play in. Catchers warn pitchers when Hamilton steps in the box.

"I hear them yelling to the pitcher: You've got to get over there fast if he bunts," Hamilton said.

The age-old adage, of course, is "you can't steal first."

But Hamilton has shown the ability to get on base this spring. He has six walks and only three strikeouts. The offseason work appears to be paying off. He's battled through at-bats on a consistent basis.

In Friday's late game against the Texas Rangers, he was 1-for-3 and stole his seventh base of the spring. He's batting .276 with a .400 on-base percentage.

Hamilton was just as fast last spring, but he was overmatched at the plate. He started the spring 2-for-18. Not only is he better than that this spring, Price says, he's been better than he was in September.

"You have to appreciate what happened between the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014," Price said. "He's evolved over the course of the offseason."

Price pointed to Hamilton's at-bat in the first inning Friday night.

"He's goes 0-2," Price said. "He has two borderline pitches that he lets pass. He works his way on base. His strike zone command to this point has been excellent. He's got six walks. He's just done a terrific job of fighting through his at-bats."

Hamilton has four bunt hits. He tried to bunt with two strikes against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

"That's something if you keep that awareness – your corner infielders, all your infielders – that keeps those holes open for him through the course of the at-bat," Price said. "I think the risk-reward is outstanding. ... We hadn't talked about it directly, that approach with two strikes. He did that on his own. I think even though he didn't get the bunt down, it's going to bode well over the course of his career.

"He's just done a lot of good things. He's fun to watch." ■