Before the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave baseball fans every indication they were going for a three-peat. They signed Edwin Diaz, Kyle Tucker and brought back playoff heroes Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas for their expected October run. At the trade deadline, fans thought Los Angeles became unbeatable the second it traded for Tarik Skubal.
But the Milwaukee Brewers finally have the twice-reigning champs on the ropes. The Dodgers are down 0-2 in the NLCS and they look lost without players like Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith at their best. Former Boston Red Sox player David Hamilton has helped keep the Dodgers on their toes.
William Contreras (brother of Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras) was undoubtedly the player of the game on October 12, with three hits including a home run, a walk, one run and three RBI, but Hamilton came in a close second. The third baseman logged two hits, three runs and two stolen bases. Hamilton scored the Brewers' winning run and their first insurance run en route to a 7-4 victory.
Hamilton was a regular in the Brewers' lineup all season and his play rivaled his best year with the Red Sox. He batted .245/.314/.336 with 13 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 26 RBI in 121 games. His best strength remained stealing bases and he finished the year with 30.
Former Red Sox infielder David Hamilton thriving as he helps Brewers beat Dodgers in NLCS
Hamilton batted .222/.283/.359 over parts of three seasons in the Red Sox's infield. He stole 57 bases over 204 games with Boston. He isn't the best defender (one out above average in 2025, 11 outs below average in 2026) and rarely makes hard contact and the Red Sox needed a better player in one of their middle infield slots, but Hamilton is very good at what he does best. On a playoff caliber team, an elite baserunner is a key asset.
Hamilton had his moments in a Red Sox uniform, but the team needs better infield bats if it wants to go farther in the postseason. The Sox have seemingly found one in Caleb Durbin, who had an incredible midseason turnaround this year before falling off again in September due to a finger injury. Durbin is also excellent defender and a lock for the American League Gold Glove at third base, an advantage Hamilton never brought during his time with the Sox.
Even if the Red Sox have a capable infield without Hamilton, it always stings to see former Sox leave the organization and play better than they ever have in massive moments. Hamilton adds to a long list of said players, and Nathaniel Lowe and Dustin May are pushing to join him this postseason.
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