CINCINNATI -- It's easy to say Billy Hamilton is fast. It's more impressive to show you exactly how fast the Reds center fielder is.
Hamilton scored from first base on a single into the left-center gap by Joey Votto in the fifth inning of Saturday night's 13-7 loss to Milwaukee. It's something only a small handful of players could have accomplished.
According to Statcast™, Hamilton needed just 8.2 seconds to complete his trip, marking the fastest first-to-home time Statcast™, which was introduced for the 2015 season, has ever recorded. He topped out at a speed of 21.8 mph. Hamilton was running on the first pitch that Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson delivered to Votto. Nelson made three throws to first base on pickoff moves and once to third base, where Zack Cozart was, before finally pitching to Votto.
Votto sliced the ball the opposite way into the gap, forcing center fielder Ramon Flores to chase down the ball. Hamilton got the green light from third base coach Billy Hatcher and scored without a throw. Votto went to second base when third baseman Hernan Perez lost the ball as he turned the throw home. It wouldn't have mattered.
"Billy, I think unquestionably, is the fastest guy in baseball, and I thought it was good for Hatch to send him," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "Have to give credit to Hatch for making the good call to send him. It was an exciting play."