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Hamilton healed, hitting and ready for 2017
- Updated: December 3, 2016
CINCINNATI — The strained left oblique that wiped out most of the final month of Billy Hamilton’s 2016 season is fully healed after he fully rested through October. But the Reds’ center fielder didn’t feel that the injury and the time off has stunted the progress he made as a hitter during the second half.
Hamilton, 26, has spent much of the offseason working out in Cincinnati, either at Great American Ball Park or the MLB Urban Youth Academy. His hitting has been right where he wants it to be.
“I went in the cage the other day, and I felt like where I left off at. It felt natural,” Hamilton said during Redsfest. “It was just flowing and everything. I feel like it’s going to be big for me.”
• Reds roll out red carpet for fun-filled Redsfest
Hamilton, who batted .260 with a .321 on-base percentage and 58 stolen bases in 2016, has been hitting with third-base coach Billy Hatcher. Hamilton’s teammate and one of the game’s best hitters, Joey Votto, has also popped in when he’s been in town.
Votto also provided hitting advice to Hamilton during the season. Hamilton rallied from a slow start to ’16 and regained his leadoff spot in the second half, when he hit .293 with a …
