center of attention

With any luck, we’ll get to judge how Billy Hamilton’s adjustment to center field has gone when Peoria meets Salt River in today’s Arizona Fall League championship game (2 p.m., MLB Network). Hamilton, the speedy Taylorsville High product, is expected to start in center for Peoria, with Meridian Community College product Corey Dickerson possibly in left or right for Salt River. Cincinnati converted Hamilton from shortstop to outfield in the AFL. “People say outfield is easy,” he told mlb.com in late October, “but once you get out there, you’ve got to know the hitters, how much power they’ve got and the angle of the bat when the ball comes off it. It’s been a little hard.” Hamilton certainly has the speed and a strong enough arm to make this work, and he seems to have bought into it. “Whatever gets me to the big leagues, I’m down with it,” he told mlb.com. He hit just .234 in the AFL but did steal 10 bags, drive in nine runs and score 11. He hit .311 in the regular season and stole a pro record 155 bases between high-A and Double-A. Dickerson, a Colorado prospect and more of a power hitter, batted .364 with three doubles, two triples, a homer, 11 RBIs and eight steals.