David Hamilton - Second Baseman
Assuming big-money off-season acquisition Alex Bregman plays at his natural third-base position, David Hamilton would need to start the season at second.
Hamilton was acquired by the Sox via trade during the 2021 offseason. After a season plus in the minors, he broke into the big leagues with the Red Sox in the 2023 season. While he only played in 15 games for the Sox, he grew into a prominent role with the club last season. During the 2024 season, David played 98 games and saw time at both second base and shortstop.
While he has spent time as a middle-of-the-infield utility player, per the team’s website, he may get the starting nod as the team’s second baseman this season.
During his first full season of big-league action, Hamilton flashed his elite speed with 33 stolen bases and showed some pop with eight home runs. In the last two seasons, David has had issues with errors in the field. Last season, he had seven errors in 62 games at shortstop and three errors in 39 games at second base. Maybe as the team’s full-time second baseman, the error issues will be resolved.
The Red Sox have been searching for a full-time second baseman since the departure of fan-favorite Dustin Pedroia following the 2021 season. Hamilton, 27, is young enough to be just that. With a full season at second base, he may have the opportunity to fix his errors and provide more of a presence at the plate for a club that has been dying for consistent production for years.