When I first heard of Josh Hamilton, I knew he was the number one pick in 1999 and a five tool talent out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Hamilton was a can’t-miss prospect with prodigious power and a mammoth frame for such a young kid. We all know the ensuing story: drugs, alcohol, suspension. Hamilton was out of baseball and trying to get his life back, and got the chance to once again step on the field when he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft in 2006 by the Chicago Cubs, and later traded to the Cincinnati Reds. Hamilton impressed in his return in 2007, hitting 19 home runs with 47 RBIs with a .922 OPS in just 90 games. Hamilton was traded that off-season to the Texas Rangers for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera. It was with Texas that Hamilton shined, and became the star that so many scouts and talent evaluators had envisioned he would be as a nineteen-year-old kid.
After an historic Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in 2008, a 2010 American League MVP, and back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010-2011, Hamilton was back where he belonged, which earned him, in the winter of 2012, a five-year, $125 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He had deserved it; during his tenure with the Rangers, he batted a collective .305 with 142 home runs, 506 RBIs, and a .912 OPS. Critics were worried about the injuries Hamilton had endured with Texas, including a bruised rib cage and a fracture to his right humerus. They were also concerned about him living in Los Angeles as a recovering addict, one who had relapsed in 2009 when he was caught drinking at a bar in Arizona. Nonetheless, Angels owner Arte Moreno wanted star power, as evidenced by the signing of Albert Pujols to a ten year deal one year prior. He knew the risks he was taking in signing Hamilton. Hamilton had a tough go in LA, dealing with sub-par numbers and more injuries.
In February of 2015, Hamilton underwent shoulder surgery to repair his AC joint, keeping him out of action for six to eight weeks. During this time, it was also revealed that Hamilton had relapsed yet again in the winter, this time with cocaine and alcohol. Hamilton was hurt, off the wagon, and going through a divorce and child custody battles. The demons were back, and for any man to go through all that would be mind boggling, let alone a superstar athlete, always in the spotlight and followed in every move he made.
Moreno wanted Hamilton gone, demanding that all Hamilton merchandise be pulled from the concessions, and making comments to the media implying he did not want Hamilton back on his team. From a baseball standpoint, yes, Hamilton had not lived up to the expectations of his $25 million contract. But the injuries Hamilton had suffered in Texas, and the stigma that comes with a recovering addict, was not new information for Moreno. Hamilton is not to be excused for his actions, but drug and alcohol addiction is a disease, and something he will have to live with the rest of his life. The Angels found a trade partner with the team he had his best seasons with, the Texas Rangers, and traded him in late April, with the Angels eating most of his contract.
Hamilton rehabbed with the Rangers minor league affiliates, spent a few weeks playing in games, and came back and started in left field for the Rangers on May 25th. He went 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He looked rusty. That’s to be expected for a guy who hasn’t played professionally in months. With the Rangers defeating the Indians 10-8 on the day, they now have a six game winning streak, and hope that Prince Fielder’s bat can keep producing and that Hamilton can regain some of that All Star form he had in 2008-2012. The Rangers are a game under .500 at 22-23, which is frankly amazing, considering they were 7-14 on April 30th. The Rangers are hoping this homecoming helps relax Hamilton and brings out that dangerous, left-handed swing fans are accustomed of seeing him display.
As an individual who has dealt personally with family addictions, my heart and thoughts go out to Hamilton. Many will cite that he already had several chances and has messed up each one; this is a fair point. Yet as humans, we all err. No one is perfect. We all need some sort of support, whether it be from faith, family, or loved ones, to help guide us through hard times. Hamilton is back in the perfect place to succeed if there is one at all. He hit well in his rehab assignment in Double-A, hitting .364 with an OPS of .937. Can he help this Rangers team? Absolutely. For the Rangers, this truly is a low-risk, high-reward trade.
Hamilton is motivated, wanting to have some sort of normalcy in his life. He’s lost it all once, and now has again with his family. Baseball runs in his blood; he is a modern day Roy Hobbs, right out of “The Natural”, having been gone from the game for many years only to reemerge as one of the best. He’s defied the odds before, and I believe he can again. Many will not root for him; many will say he should be suspended for his actions. Maybe baseball is his silver lining, saving him from the total destruction of his life. I still support Hamilton. I still believe, and it’s more than that; it’s beyond belief.
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