off-season watch

Billy Hamilton went 0-for-4 with a walk in his Puerto Rican (Roberto Clemente) Winter League debut on Saturday. The former Taylorsville High star, who made a nice splash in his MLB debut with Cincinnati in September, is playing for Santurce along with former Delta State standout Edwin Maysonet. Hamilton batted . 256 with six homers, 41 RBIs and 75 steals at Triple-A Louisville last season and then hit .368 with 13 steals in 13 games (19 at-bats) with the Reds. Hamilton should have a real shot at Cincy’s center field job in the spring. … Atlanta has signed former Jackson Mets pitcher Roger McDowell to a new two-year deal as pitching coach. The Braves led baseball with a 3.18 ERA in 2013. As Atlanta’s pitching coach since 2005, McDowell has worked with a large group of former Mississippi Braves pitchers as they broke into the big leagues.