Cincinnati Reds' Billy Hamilton will have shoulder surgery

ST. LOUIS -- Billy Hamilton's season ended two weeks early Monday night when the Cincinnati Reds announced that he would undergo surgery Friday to repair a sprained capsule in his right shoulder.

The news came before the Reds' 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The center fielder excited fans last year as a rookie, finishing second in the National League with 56 steals and doing just enough with the bat -- .250, six homers and 48 RBIs, displaying surprising pop at times -- to inspire thoughts that he could be a Rickey Henderson-style game-shaper atop the order.

This year was a step backwards offensively for the lithe speedster. While Hamilton leads the majors with 57 steals in just 65 attempts, he hasn't reached first base enough to make his speed a true weapon, hitting a weak .226 and walking only 28 times in 412 at-bats. His on-base percentage is a woeful .274.

Reds manager Bryan Price took to hitting Hamilton ninth for a good chunk of the season, an indictment of the outfielder's inability to reach base and also a waste of a guy whose speed can unnerve an opponent without ever using it.

Still, speed doesn't help if a player can't get on base. Hamilton has to make adjustments to be more than the sports car that can go 0 to 100 in mere seconds. He must bunt more often and refine his eye while continuing to cut down on strikeouts.

For Cincinnati to get the most out of Hamilton, he has to commit to reaching base more often so he can steal more of them.