Outfielder Josh Hamilton held a press conference Monday to discuss being traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Texas Rangers, his drug and alcohol relapse and his future with the Rangers and beyond baseball.
Hamilton played for the Rangers from 2008 to 2012 and seemed excited about his return to the Lone Star State, per Fox Sports: MLB:
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com passed along some quotes from Hamilton indicating that he will be more comfortable back with Texas than he was as a member of the Angels, while Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted that Hamilton expects a warmer welcome from Rangers fans than those in Los Angeles:
Hamilton’s time in Los Angeles did not go according to plan, as he struggled both on and off the field. He only played in 89 games in the 2014 season and hit .263 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. Off-field concerns also contributed to the Angels’ decision to trade him. He relapsed in his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction during the past offseason.
Angels owner Arte Moreno suggested in early April that certain language in Hamilton’s contract protected the team in the face of a relapse. Hamilton responded to that claim at his press conference, per Wilson and Gonzalez:
Ideally, Hamilton’s attention will now turn back to the field with the Rangers. Hamilton was a five-time All-Star in Texas, winning the 2010 American League MVP. He also helped the team reach back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011.
Gonzalez passed along Hamilton’s encouraging words for Rangers fans:
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com noted that Hamilton is on the disabled list while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and he is expected to go to Arizona for a rehab program at the Rangers’ spring training facility. From there, he will likely go on a minor league rehab assignment for several games before realistically reaching the major league level.
Texas could certainly use him, considering the team is dead last in the majors in team batting average entering play Monday.
There is also life after baseball to take into account with Hamilton, which he addressed during the press conference, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times and Gonzalez:
There are plenty of people who hope Hamilton is fine after baseball is over.
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