Josh Hamilton to miss four weeks with hamstring strain
Just when things seemed to be coming together for Josh Hamilton following his offseason relapse and a shoulder injury that required surgery in February, he was dealt another injury this week that we’ve now learned will sideline him until July.
As announced by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, Hamilton will miss the next four weeks with a strained hamstring suffered while running out his game-winning two-run double on Sunday afternoon. Hamilton appeared in that game as a pinch-hitter after being given his first routine day off since rejoining the team on May 25, so there’s no indication he was ailing beforehand.
There was also little indication the injury would prove to be this serious. The Rangers first described it as tightness and listed Hamilton as day-to-day. He didn’t appear Tuesday or Wednesday as expected, and now we know it’ll likely be July 1 before we see him again.
In six games since his return, Hamilton was 6-for-22 with five RBIs and five runs scored. He homered twice, both coming in a May 29 win over the Boston Red Sox. His biggest hit was the double on Sunday which helped Texas take three of four in the series.
Hamilton’s injury comes on the heels of Texas losing Adrian Beltre for two weeks with a sprained left thumb.
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Rookie Joey Gallo, who was recalled to take Beltre’s spot on Tuesday, now seems likely to stick around at least until Hamilton’s return to help provide some pop in the lineup. Gallo, a third baseman by trade, worked in the outfield during the instructional-league last fall and spent six games in the outfield this season in the minors to “increase his versatility.” Whether they’d be comfortable using him there in the majors is another thing all together, but they could really use his bat.
Gallo homered again in Wednesday’s 9-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox, giving him two in two major-league games to go along with a double and five RBIs.
If not Gallo, the Rangers will go back to mixing and matching in left field as they had done in the season’s first seven weeks. Five different players cycled through the position with only Delino DeShields providing a decent upside. Jake Smolinksi received the assignment on Wednesday, going 0-for-4 with strikeouts against Chris Sale and Zach Duke.
Putting the baseball part aside though, it’s just too bad that Hamilton’s comeback has to be put on hold. He’s had a trying few months and he’s come through them remarkably well. Here’s hoping that once he’s healed he came pick up right where he left off and provide a few more thrilling moments for Rangers fans.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
