The Atlanta Braves claimed outfielder Billy Hamilton off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on Monday, the team announced.
The Royals designated the struggling Hamilton for assignment on Friday.
Atlanta made the move after learning outfielder Ender Inciarte will likely miss more than a month due to the hamstring injury he suffered on Friday. Inciarte is batting .246 with five homers and 24 RBIs in 65 games.
The 28-year-old Hamilton is batting just .211 with no homers and 12 RBIs. He has 18 steals in 93 games.
The Royals signed Hamilton to a one-year deal in the offseason. He spent the previous five-plus seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and batted .245 with 277 stolen bases with them.
The speedy Hamilton had 56 or more stolen bases in each of his first four full seasons with Cincinnati.
Atlanta also optioned right-hander Bryse Wilson to Triple-A Gwinnett. Wilson is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in five appearances (four starts) for the Braves this season, and 8-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 19 starts at Gwinnett.
The Braves also transferred right-hander Jacob Webb (elbow) from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list to open up a 40-man roster spot for Hamilton.
