David Hamilton (baseball)

David Lewis Hamilton (born September 29, 1997) is an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career
Hamilton attended San Marcos High School in San Marcos, Texas. The Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 28th round of the 2016 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the Angels. He enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He tore his achilles tendon in an electric scooter accident, causing him to miss his junior season in 2019.

Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Hamilton in the eighth round, with the 253rd overall selection, of the 2019 MLB draft. He signed with the Brewers, forgoing his senior season at Texas.

During the 2020 season, Hamilton played for Team Texas in the Constellation Energy League, following the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in High-A Central. He stole six bases in a game on June 2, setting a franchise record. In August, the Brewers promoted him to the Biloxi Shuckers of Double-A South.

Boston Red Sox
On December 1, 2021, the Brewers traded Hamilton, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Alex Binelas to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Hunter Renfroe. In his first game with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, Hamilton went 5-for-7 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and a stolen base. In 2022 in the minor leagues he had a slash line of .251/.338/.402 in 463 at bats and was tied for third in the minor leagues in stolen bases, with 70, while being caught eight times. He was named the minor-league Baserunner of the Year by the Red Sox organization.

On November 15, 2022, Hamilton was added to Boston's 40-man roster. Hamilton was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox to begin the 2023 season. In 52 games, he slashed .255/.339/.486 with 11 home runs, 25 RBI, and 27 stolen bases. On June 21, Hamilton was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He was optioned back to Worcester on July 7 after appearing in 13 games and batting .138. Hamilton was recalled to Boston on August 28. On September 22, Hamilton underwent season–ending surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. In 15 major-league games for Boston, he had a slash line of .121/.256/.182 with no home runs or RBI, and two stolen bases. In September, Hamilton was recognized as the Red Sox' minor-league defensive player of the year for 2023.

Hamilton was optioned to Triple–A Worcester to begin the 2024 season. Entering the season, he was ranked as the Red Sox' number 20 minor-league prospect by Baseball America. He was activated by Boston in early April, following an injury to Trevor Story. Hamilton made his season debut on April 7 against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he hit his first major-league home run in the third inning.