The Cincinnati Reds want Billy Hamilton to use his speed and quickness this season by bunting to get on base.

Helping Hamilton is his former manager, Double-A Pensacola skipper and former Major League speedster Delino DeShields.

"It's been good," Hamilton said. "I've been working on my bunting a lot more, and me and him are doing things with my hitting that will help me out this season. When Spring Training comes, I will be ready."

The 23-year-old Hamilton is expected to be the club's new leadoff hitter and center fielder.

"If he is what we think he can be, he'll be just what we need -- somebody that puts that bit of fear in every opponent," Reds manager Bryan Price said in December. "I watched Ichiro [Suzuki] do it [for the Mariners]. He was a true left-handed hitter, but the speed tool just created a sense of anxiety that was palpable on the field."