Josh Hamilton and Rangers Agree to Minor League Deal
Yes, the title is true. Josh Hamilton has agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. One of the most beautiful swings the game has ever seen, is back. One of the most naturally gifted players to every step in the box, is back. A man that has seen everything from stardom, to addiction, to second chances, to the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby, to another downfall, to more second chances all before he turned 36, is back. I know what you're thinking, 36 is old for a baseball player. However, for Josh and many others that have stuck by him, this goes well beyond baseball.
Hamilton was released from the Rangers last season after just 2 minor league at bats. The signing marks his 3rd stint with the team. Like always with Hamilton, there are question marks all around his name. His past is well documented. The former 1st overall pick in the 1999 draft was out of the league in 2003, 2004 and 2005 due to a long battle with substance abuse. His book Beyond Belief tells the story of his struggle with addiction and his ability to refind baseball. At 26 years old, after being taken in the rule 5 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, Hamilton was back and living up to the potential people had seen in him. In 2008, he emerged as one of the most feared hitters in the league as he slashed .304/.371/.530 with 32 home runs and a league leading 130 RBIs. By 2010, Hamilton was the league MVP despite playing in just 133 games. He slashed an incredible .359/.411/.633 with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs. His past was exactly that, the past. Josh Hamilton had beat addiction and was now playing the best baseball of his life.
After hitting 43 home runs in 2012, he left for the big city of Los Angeles to play for the Angels on one of the biggest contracts in baseball. Hamilton was run out of LA after 2 seasons where he played a total of only 240 games, hit 31 home runs, drove in 123 RBIs and struck out a monstrous 266 times. Though he had relapsed a few times throughout his career, and was not the same player that once wore the Texas uniform, the Rangers took him back during the 2015 season.
To say that is a shortened summary of what Josh Hamilton has been through is an understatement. Let’s forget the past and focus on the now. What can the former MVP bring to the table in the future for the Texas Rangers? While many are already counting him out, I think that is unfair. Sure, we haven’t seen much of him since 2012 and yes, he has dealt with major injuries the past couple years. But as we know, Josh Hamilton is no stranger to comebacks.
Josh was definitely one of the most (or the most) naturally gifted players I have ever watched. His swing was a work of art, his raw power was insane and his ability to go with a pitch and drive it into the left center field gap was exactly what you wanted out of a hitter. He was the hitter you would see in a textbook titled “How to hit a baseball”. He has lost a step or two, no doubt due to his injuries and he is not the MVP we once saw ripping doubles into the gap at Globe Life Park. However Hamilton said he is 100% healthy for the first time in years. Along with that, he is confident and is back in the mindset he possessed in the earlier years of his career with the Rangers and Reds. In LA, Hamilton appeared to just not be the same. Not just in the way he played, but his presence and enthusiasm seemed lackluster. Baseball is a mental game and for someone as talented as he is, being in the right state and enjoying the game can certainly make for huge improvement.
Hamilton may be able to impact the Rangers positively if he can stay on track and re find his groove. While his prime is well behind him and we certainly may not see Hamilton ever bat in the majors again, counting him out at this point is something we just can’t do. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to see the 5 time all star hitting monster home runs and putting his body on the line to track down a fly ball at the wall with his team already leading by 9 runs. With all he has overcome, we wish Josh the best of luck in his attempted comeback.