Josh Hamilton‘s return to the Texas Rangers has been up and down, thanks in large part to injuries that keep preventing the former American League MVP from finding a groove. That’s the case once again as he’s dealing with knee soreness that has caused him to miss multiple games.
Continue for updates.
Hamilton Will Undergo MRI; Comments on Status
Thursday, Aug. 13
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News confirmed Hamilton would undergo testing and provided his response when asked if he was concerned about the injury: “I’m not sure. This feels a little more uncomfortable than usual. I’m not sure if it’s worse.”
Ryan Strausborger has replaced Hamilton in the lineup, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
Hamilton did hit well when he was able to play for Texas, blasting five extra-base hits in his first 33 at-bats, but he was never healthy enough to remain in the lineup consistently. His longest stretch of consecutive games played was seven from May 25-31.
Once June started, he missed virtually the entire month before returning on the final day. Even in the limited sample size, it’s good to see that the 34-year-old is still capable of producing with the bat.
“I feel like every time I’m close to where I want to be, something else comes up,” said Hamilton, per Grant, who has dealt with a sore left hamstring, a sore left groin and now the sore knee. “And that’s tremendously frustrating.”
He has remained in the lineup throughout the month of July and early August. On the season, he is batting .252 with five home runs and 19 RBI.
The problem for Hamilton remains playing enough to make it count. This will be the second straight year in which Hamilton is going to play fewer than 100 games, appearing in just 89 last year with the Los Angeles Angels.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com