Fantasy Baseball: What Do You Do with Josh Hamilton?

Josh Hamilton entered into the Rangers starting lineup with a bang, but almost immediately went right back out. On a game-winning, two-run double, Hamilton got a grade 2 hamstring pull. He was put on the 15-day DL a few days later, but USA Today and others report that the injury is more likely to be a four-week one.

It was very difficult to predict how Josh Hamilton would come back from such a tumultuous year that involved a self-reported relapse, surgery on his shoulder, and a trade from the Los Angeles Angels back to the Texas Rangers. He hadn’t looked great with the Angels compared to his days with the Rangers, so the change back could be a positive.

Josh Hamilton’s seven game return certainly showed some promise. In twelve games with minor league affiliates before the return, he had a strong .364 batting average and hit plenty of long balls, showing that his shoulder was healthy enough for a return.

After looking very rusty in the Cleveland series, his first back in the pros, he performed great against Boston. In the four-game series, Josh Hamilton had two homers, four runs, and five RBIs on five hits. While it’s obviously a very small sample size, his batting average was consistent with his recent career.

May 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) hits a home run and rounds second base during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Considering he was owned in less than 50% of CBS leagues for weeks into the regular season, there’s a good chance that you got him off the waivers, and therefore it probably isn’t much of a loss on your investment of him if he does end up being a total bust. However, if you can keep him on your bench and there aren’t any especially great players available on the waiver wire, I would hold tight and see what happens when he comes back.

Since the injury was to his hamstring and not a re-injuring of his shoulder (which he had surgery on), there shouldn’t be particular concern that when he comes back he will be any more likely to get injured than any other player his age.

His brief stats showed that he can be very productive in leagues where you aren’t too worried about plenty of strike outs. He still has his usual ability to swing for the fences, and that certainly has it’s worth in nearly any fantasy league.