- Josh Hamilton
It has been an interesting 10 years for Josh Hamilton. If anyone has had a career of ups and downs, it’s J-Ham. Let’s not dig deep into his heavy drug use. Let’s not dig deep into his previous cycles of rehab and falling off the wagon. The biggest issue to note is health. Hamilton has had two knee surgeries since his last Major League appearance. That’s a lot to bounce back from, especially for someone who is 35 years old.
Much like Joey Gallo, Josh Hamilton doesn’t seem to have a place on the roster. Honestly, if the Rangers were to be responsible for any large part of his contract, Hamilton wouldn’t be here. Luckily for him, the Los Angeles Angels are covering an overwhelming majority of his $28.4M deal. The Mike Napoli signing didn’t help his stock either. First base was a good potential landing spot for Hamilton, until Napoli was secured. Now, the Rangers are stuck trying to see where he fits in. At best, he could be a bat off the bench. At worst, Texas sticks him back into the Minor League system, and continue to pay him next to nothing for his service there. At rock bottom, Josh Hamilton decides to retire from the game of baseball.
A lot of fans cling to Josh Hamilton, and it’s understandable. He was a five-time All-Star for the Rangers, from 2008-2012. This included two World Series appearances. He was the American League MVP in 2010. The most involved Texas Rangers fans remember May 8, 2010. As Texas took on the Baltimore Orioles, J-Ham had four home runs. That’s a feat that has only been done by 15 other players in all of Major League Baseball history. But all of that is in the past.
[Blake]
During Spring Training, Josh Hamilton has to show he’s healthy. And not just that. He has to prove he’s good enough to be on the 25-man roster. Hamilton will have to play hard, impress Jeff Banister, and prove he’s worthy of a coveted spot on the team. It will be hard, grueling work. But if he wants to stay in the game, Josh Hamilton has to come out swinging. Literally.