Former Dash right-hander Ian Hamilton makes MLB debut

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Sept. 1, 2018) - Former Dash right-hander Ian Hamilton made his Major League debut with the Chicago White Sox on Friday after earning a promotion from Triple-A Charlotte earlier that day. Hamilton pitched for Winston-Salem in 2017. 
Hamilton becomes the 360th Winston-Salem alumnus to graduate to the Major Leagues, and the 52nd in the Dash era (2009-present). He joins former right-handers Yency Almonte (2015) and Ryan Burr (2017) as the only Dash alumni to reach The Show this season.

The right-hander pitched the ninth inning for the White Sox of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Guarenteed Rate Field. His first ptich - a 98 mph fastball - resulted in a groundout to Yoán Moncada at second base. Hamilton retired all three batters he faced in a scoreless ninth inning, needing just six pitches to finish off a 6-1 win for the White Sox.  
An 11th round pick in 2016 out of Washington State University, Hamilton was 3-2 with a 1.74 ERA in 43 relief appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He started the year with the Barons and dominated as the closer, racking up 10 saves in 13 opportunities and posting a 1.78 ERA in 28 appearances en route to being named a 2018 Southern League Midseason All-Star. Upon a second-half promotion to the Knights, Hamilton continued to shine, earning 12 saves and posting a 1.71 ERA in 22 appearances. 
With the Dash in 2017, Hamilton tied for third on the team with 30 relief appearances, striking out 52 and walking eight in 52.2 innings. The 23-year-old also recorded a 1.71 ERA and notched six saves.
Winston-Salem had two players at the start of the year who had logged time in the big leagues. José Ruiz and Ricardo Pinto, who each made their Major League debut in 2017, were on the Dash's active roster on Opening Day.