Watch: Billy Hamilton Had Fastest HR Trot On Record By Statcast
(CBS) Reds speedster Billy Hamilton made history Monday night at Wrigley Field.
In the third inning of an eventual 5-3 loss to the Cubs, Hamilton hit a solo homer and then sped around the bases in 16.2 seconds. It was the fastest over-the-wall home run trot ever recorded by MLB.com's Statcast, which has been tracking such data since 2014.
A fourth-year pro, Hamilton only has 11 career homers. That plays into his approach on home run trots -- or should we say sprints.
"I didn't know it was a home run," Hamilton told reporters afterward. "If you don't know it's a home run, you can't expect it to be home run when you don't hit home runs. My motto is, 'If that ball falls, I'm trying to get an inside the park home run.' I'm going full speed all the time. If it falls at the wall, I won't be standing on first base. I'll be on second or third where somebody has a chance to drive me in."
No one will ever accuse Hamilton of not hustling. Marlins infielder Dee Gordon has the fastest home run trot ever recorded, clocking in at 13.95 seconds on an inside-the-parker last season, according to Tater Tot Tracker.