From Henderson, quick praise for Hamilton

NEW YORK -- Google "Billy Hamilton" and you'll find a half-dozen articles asking, "Is Billy Hamilton the next Rickey Henderson?"

That's what happens when a top prospect with blazing speed is less than a year removed from swiping 155 bases, which is what Hamilton did for two Reds farm teams in 2012.

So it's only logical to ask Henderson, the all-time stolen base leader with 1,406 over a nearly 25-year career, about Hamilton, who may just be the next Henderson.

"I'm looking forward to him being the next guy to do a lot of things on the basepaths," Henderson said, adding that when he saw Hamilton play at Class A, he dubbed him as the "ideal basestealing guy."

"He doesn't have any fear," Henderson said. "He's willing to take a challenge. He's not afraid to get thrown out."

Fearlessness isn't something that can be taught, but it can be emphasized, as it was when Lou Brock talked to Henderson about the art of stealing many moons ago.

"He said, 'You know, don't be afraid of what you're doing out there,'" Henderson said. "'Don't get down on yourself when they throw you out, because you've got to get back up. You get better each and every time.' It helped me out. That's what I try to teach: 'Don't be afraid.' You get thrown out two, three times -- get back out and try again."