Hamilton thinks about giving up switch-hitting

DETROIT — Billy Hamilton was happy to tie the Reds' club record for stolen bases in a game Sunday with five in the Reds' 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

He was happier with what the five steals represented.

"Stolen bases are going to come," he said. "I don't count my stolen bases. They're there. To get five means I got on bases a lot, which I haven't been doing as much as I want to. Getting on was more of an accomplishment. It's something to build on."

It's no coincidence that a left-hander started Sunday's game: Hamilton's two hits came off starter Jon Lester. Hamilton admits he thought about hitting right-handed when he faced a right-hander in the eighth.

"I think about it all the time," Hamilton said. "Not just me, all switch-hitters think about it. Most switch-hitters feel more comfortable from one side than they do the other. You go up sometimes and think: I feel so good right-handed. I want to hit right-handed.

"But you don't. That's what comes with being a switch-hitter. That's what you signed up for. You've got to do it."

Hamilton went into Monday hitting .205/.256/.253 left-handed and .266/.284/.438 right-handed. The splits are more stark than last year, though. He hit .246/.291/.350 left-handed and .264/.297/.373 right-handed as a rookie in 2014.

Eugenio Suarez, the Reds' new shortstop, gave up switch-hitting when he reached the majors.

Hamilton thinks about doing the same thing, although it won't happen during this season.

"It's on my mind all the time," he said. "Here lately, a bunch of guys have done it. Pablo (Sandoval) did it. Shane Victorino did it. It's something you can't do in the middle of the season. You can't go from being left-hander to facing righty-on-righty. You can't do it in the middle of the season.

"But it's something I've really been thinking about to do. I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable left-handed. It's something I've got to keep working hard at."

The Reds are committed to Hamilton developing as a switch-hitter, although if they thought otherwise, they would not likely announce it.

"He didn't sign as a switch-hitter," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He signed as a right-handed hitting shortstop. Now he's a switching-hitting center fielder. We've put a lot on his plate since the time he signed. His left-handed swing is a work-in-progress. I think he'll evolve into a nice offensive player. There'll be some hard knocks along the way."

Hamilton's speed is such an asset that, if he could get on base at a better clip, he'd be a huge weapon. He went into Monday with 31 steals on 35 attempts. He stole 56 last year but was caught 23 times.

He's improved that part of his game.

"His evolution is he hasn't gotten any faster," Price said. "He's gotten a heck of a lot smarter and more experienced. He's not forcing the stolen bases. That's experience. We had to get him out there and see what he was capable of doing and see what he needed to improve upon.

"He's been a great student with Billy Hatcher. Subsequently, his stolen base percentage has gone way up."