David Hamilton
3B · Age 28 · Bats Left
Where things stand
David Hamilton is dealing with a hamstring injury that has forced the Milwaukee Brewers to shuffle their infield depth. Hamilton's absence comes amid a crowded competition for infield spots with Joey Ortiz posting elite defensive numbers at third base and Cooper Pratt returning to health at shortstop. Earlier in the season, Hamilton committed a throwing error at third base in the tenth inning of a loss to the Mets, though the game's outcome was attributed more to the team's offensive struggles than his defensive miscue.
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2026 season
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David Hamilton coverage
Pat Murphy: Creating All-Stars by establishing dominance
Pat Murphy has won back-to-back Manager of the Year Awards while leading one of baseball's youngest rosters, establishing a pattern of benching players mid-at-bat to enforce fundamental standards. Murphy's approach includes pulling Sal Frelick and Caleb Durbin in April for defensive mistakes, Brandon Sproat in August for wild pitches, and Cooper Pratt in a recent game against the Mets for failing to execute a bunt and not running out a ball. While these moves have generally earned fan support and appear to improve player performance, the Pratt benching drew criticism when David Hamilton's replacement at third base threw wildly home in the tenth inning, allowing the Mets to win. Murphy maintains that establishing consequences for poor play sets the tone for the entire clubhouse and ensures winning baseball.
Brew Crew BallPat Murphy's benching of Cooper Pratt wasn't real reason Brewers dropped series opener with Mets
The Milwaukee Brewers lost to the New York Mets in extra innings on a throwing error by David Hamilton in the bottom of the 10th. Manager Pat Murphy's mid-game benching of rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt in the fifth inning drew criticism online, but the real issue was the team's poor situational hitting throughout the game. The Brewers squandered multiple scoring opportunities, including a third-inning situation where Pratt grounded into a forceout with runners in scoring position, and leadoff hitters Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang combined to go 0-for-10 with three strikeouts. Without these offensive failures, the game would never have reached extra innings where Hamilton's error decided the outcome.
Reviewing the BrewBrewers have already made the Bo Naylor change we suspected they would after trade deadline
The Milwaukee Brewers emphasize an offensive approach focused on letting the ball travel and reacting to pitch location rather than pulling, ranking last in baseball with a 36% pull rate. Manager Pat Murphy explained that Joey Ortiz's recent uptick in pulling coincides with increased confidence rather than causing his improved performance. Players acquired by the Brewers, such as David Hamilton, have significantly decreased their pull-air rates after joining the team, while pull-oriented hitters like Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins were traded away after their rookie seasons. Catcher Bo Naylor, acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, is already showing early signs of adjusting to Milwaukee's approach of not pulling the ball as frequently.
Reviewing the BrewUnbelievable Joey Ortiz stat makes inconsistent playing time even more perplexing
Joey Ortiz leads all of Major League Baseball with +7 Outs Above Average at third base in 2026, despite playing only 209.1 innings at the position—less than 25% of the playing time of the second-place defender. The Milwaukee Brewers third baseman has also posted a +5 Fielding Run Value, tied for the best mark among third basemen, while hitting at a 180 wRC+ in the second half. With rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt returning to health and David Hamilton also competing for infield spots, manager Pat Murphy faces a roster crunch among three excellent defenders for limited positions.
Reviewing the BrewBrewers' top prospect's second untimely injury challenges organization's infield depth
The Milwaukee Brewers' infield depth has been tested by consecutive hamstring injuries to David Hamilton and Cooper Pratt within a month, forcing the team to shuffle its roster and sign former Pirates utility player Ji Hwan Bae. Top prospect Jett Williams, who was acquired in the Freddy Peralta trade, has been unable to capitalize on these opportunities due to a recurring wrist injury that he re-aggravated during his first at-bat after returning from the injured list on August 8. Williams is heading to Arizona for a specialist evaluation, as he has a history of wrist problems including a 2024 TFCC tear surgery. The Brewers have responded by moving Andrew Vaughn to third base for consecutive starts and using Brice Turang at shortstop situationally.
Reviewing the Brew