CHICAGO -- Billy Hamilton caught the White Sox by surprise with his legs, and then caught his own team by surprise in the batter's box.

In the Cubs' 10-8 win in Sunday's regular-season finale, Hamilton flashed his speed with a steal of home, showing the kind of impact the Cubs hope he can have on the October stage. Hamilton later launched a home run for the first time in 760 days.

"He's a real threat and a real impact for this club," Cubs manager David Ross said. "That's the kind of difference-maker that can win you a close ballgame, especially in a postseason format."

Since adding Hamilton to the fold in early September, Ross has used the fleet-footed center fielder mostly for late-inning defense or pinch-running scenarios. With the National League Central title clinched, Ross gave Hamilton the start in center and in the leadoff spot on Sunday.

"To get a chance to have fun today was big," Hamilton said. "Last game of the season, got a chance to get a start. We kind of got things moving a little bit."

In the second inning, Hamilton teamed up with Cameron Maybin for an emphatic end to a six-run rally.

With one out and runners on the corners, the White Sox pulled starter Reynaldo López and brought in lefty Carlos Rodón. While Rodón warmed up, Hamilton and Maybin motioned to one another, communicating some plans for the next at-bat.

What was Hamilton telling Maybin to do?

"Try to get just like a bigger lead to make him pick over," Hamilton said. "That's one thing that I always look for at third base."

With Kyle Schwarber batting, Maybin broke for second base on a steal attempt. That drew a throw to first base from Rodón, while Hamilton watched the play unfold a few steps off third. When first baseman José Abreu threw to shortstop Tim Anderson, Hamilton sprinted home.

"I didn't get the jump that I wanted to get right away," Hamilton said. "But that's something that we talk about. You getting a big lead, making a guy pick over, and that's when you start getting the confusion about if you want to throw it to second or you want to throw it to home. And we ended up getting a run in that inning, so that worked out pretty good."

The relay from Anderson to catcher Yasmani Grandal arrived a split-second too late. Hamilton raced down the line, dove head-first and swiped the plate with his left hand before Grandal could apply the tag.

In the fourth inning, Hamilton jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Jace Fry, sending it to left-center field to give the Cubs a 7-0 lead. It was Hamilton's first dinger since Aug. 29, 2018, when he hit a leadoff home run for the Reds against the Brewers.

Elvis Andrus was the last Major Leaguer to homer and steal home in the same game, doing so on April 14 last year against Oakland. Hamilton became the first Cubs player to accomplish the feat since April 11, 1967, when Glenn Beckert homered and stole home against Philadelphia, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"You know, man, that's something that I think about all the time," Hamilton said of his home run drought. "I was telling the guys, I've got [four] hits this whole season, and one of them was a homer. So it's a great feeling, to be honest with you."